Planned+offensive+against+Zuma+bloc,+Jeremy+Gordin,+The+Star



='Planned offensive' against Zuma bloc=


 * Jeremy Gordin, The Star, 19 December 2007**

//Former SA defence force chief says they aren't hooligans and thugs//

The thousands of ANC delegates supporting Jacob Zuma for ANC president had behaved impeccably "in the face of extreme provocation".

This was the view of General Siphiwe "Ghebuza" Nyanda, former chief of the SA National Defence Force and an ex-member of the ANC national executive committee, who was standing for re-election to the NEC.

"I am more than happy to stand identified as a Zuma supporter," said 57-year-old Nyanda, who has been tipped as the country's next Defence Minister if Zuma becomes president in 2009.

Nyanda said he also had no argument about being named as one of the "brains trust" that has assisted Zuma with strategy in general, and conference strategy in particular.

Other members of the Zuma think-tank are veteran ANC activist Ebrahim "Ibie" Ebrahim, who spent a decade in the same cell as Zuma on Robben Island; Blade Nzimande, the SA Communist Party general secretary; and Zweli Mkhize, the KwaZulu Natal Finance MEC.

"And what I am saying clearly," Nyanda continued, "is that a great deal of what has been spouted in the last few days - branding Zuma's supporters as a bunch of hooligans and thugs - has been a planned offensive by those opposed to Zuma."

Nyanda also said anti-Zuma elements were involving themselves in "all sorts of complicated gymnastics".

"They are saying we are holding sway at the conference by intimidating other delegates, but this is because, in essence, the Mbeki-ites are looking for a strategic justification for the forthcoming outcomes of all the elections."

Asked whether he really believed the accusations by many Zuma supporters that there had been attempts at fraud and vote-stealing, Nyanda replied: "The Mbeki camp claims it would sway thousands of politically conscious people in an incredibly short time to change their minds about whom they wanted to vote for.

"How else would one do this other than by using inducements, character assassination and fraud?"

Nyanda said he believed that, all in all, delegates had had "tons of hurdles to clear" and had done very well against difficult odds - "background shenanigans, bad chairing and the rest".

He added he thought the ANC would move forward successfully.

"We'll remain unified," said Nyanda. "About one-third of the movement may be bitter after this conference, but they'll get over it.

"We are also witnessing a palpable attempt to blame us for delays," he continued.

"For example, there was yet another adjournment yesterday (following Sunday night's adjournment of the conference), which happened for no apparent reason and which upset delegates.

"And who is asked to go and calm the delegates? Zuma, of course, and he did this brilliantly. But no one makes mention of his role as a stabilising force."


 * From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4178561**

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