SOUTH AFRICA:South Africa's President yesterday insisted he saw no reason why his government would not serve its full term. And he admitted the African National Congress (ANC) has no contingency plan for dealing with the possible conviction of its new leader Jacob Zuma for fraud.
Thabo Mbeki, who Mr Zuma replaced this week as leader of the country's ruling party, said "if he gets charged and has to appear in court I do not know how we would handle that matter; it has not been discussed," but added "All of us in the ANC have insisted, even . . . Zuma himself, that the law must take its course."
Mr Mbeki, speaking for the first time since his defeat in the ANC leadership race, tried to play down talk of a political crisis arising from the state's investigation of Mr Zuma's financial affairs.
And, of speculation that his defeat could force an early general election before 2009, when he has to step down, Mr Mbeki said: "I have no reason to assume that there would be anything that would stop the government serving the full term for which it was elected. So I would expect the government to serve its term until the elections in 2009."
The state president also dismissed claims that the ANC was split between rival camps, saying he couldn't remember a single instance when Mr Zuma and he "disagreed significantly about anything". Speaking to reporters in Pretoria, Mr Mbeki rejected suggestions that there was tension between the two men.
But, he said, he was concerned at the behaviour, and apparent poor political education, of some party members. "There are members of the ANC who don't even know what the ANC constitution says . . . because all it requires is 12 rand to go and pay, and you get a membership card, a probation period for eight weeks, and you are a member."
Delegates at an ANC conference in Polokwane resoundingly rejected Mr Mbeki's bid for a third term as party president. Sending a strong message of dissatisfaction with his leadership, they also voted a string of Zuma loyalists onto the ANC's national executive committee (NEC).
The deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, 15 cabinet ministers and six deputy ministers were all voted off the 80-person NEC, the ANC's highest decision-making body.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela topped the poll, signaling a possible rehabilitation of her political career. Communist party leader Blade Nzimande and fellow Zuma cheerleader, convicted fraudster, Tony Yengeni, also performed strongly in the NEC vote.
In contrast, Mr Mbeki's policy guru Joel Netshitenzhe barely made the list.Likewise, health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and much-respected finance minister Trevor Manuel. The latter has held out an olive branch to the new party president, saying he would be prepared to serve under a Zuma presidency - something that would greatly relieve the business community.
There remains uncertainty, however, as to how the ANC will react to the pending corruption charges against its new leader. Two years ago, Mr Mbeki sacked Mr Zuma from his office of deputy president of South Africa when the bribery allegations first surfaced .