Mbekis+four+days+of+hell,+Star



=Mbeki's four days of hell=

The Star, Johannesburg, July 4, 2005

 * By Moshoeshoe Monare**

There was a thunderous standing ovation, a praise song and a show of unity - but it was all stage-managed to preserve the dignity of President Thabo Mbeki.

So said three separate sources about the conclusion yesterday of the ANC's four-day national general council meeting at the University of Pretoria.

However, ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama and other ANC spin doctors said the standing ovation was a sign of unity in the party and a vote of confidence in Mbeki.

The president, who dismissed his deputy Jacob Zuma last month after his financial adviser Schabir Shaik was convicted of bribing him, cut a lonely figure throughout the conference. He had to endure delegates singing songs in praise of Zuma, who has been charged with corruption.

Delegates successfully demanded that Zuma, the party's deputy president be allowed to resume his duties in the ANC.

The reaction of delegates caught Mbeki and ANC leaders off guard after senior party leaders had assured the president that everything, except the "isolated, belligerent" KwaZulu Natal province, was fine.

According to sources, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa convened a meeting of premiers and provincial ANC chairpersons on Saturday night to prevent Mbeki being further humiliated and to restore his dignity.

"That's the reason for the parade that you saw," said a delegate.

This was confirmed by three sources, but ANC Gauteng spokesperson Hope Papo denied any knowledge of such a meeting.

Apart from the meeting, there was also intense lobbying of delegates, especially militant ANC Youth League members, to accord Mbeki "the respect he deserves".

Shilowa's efforts worked wonders yesterday. There was a tumultuous ovation for Mbeki when he took to the podium to close the conference, and for the first time there was a song lauding him.

This was followed by more praises when the ANC's head of international affairs, Mavivi Mayakayaka-Manzini, presented Mbeki with an award which was announced two months ago.

The African Gender Award was given to Mbeki and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade in recognition of the leading role they played in the adoption of the African Union's Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa.

Mayakayaka-Manzini referred to Mbeki as tau-tona (the great lion), and her remarks were punctuated by a song: "UMbeki, upheth' idemocracy ngesandla, iqhawe lamaqhawe!" (Mbeki has democracy in his hands, he is hero of heroes).

This was a stark contrast to earlier scenes at the conference when some delegates shunned Mbeki and sang songs praising Zuma. Mbeki defined the protests as alien to the ANC.

Ngonyama described the pro-Zuma protest songs as "unusual".

"When a song is sung by a particular group and others don't follow, it is unusual. Like the song about the capitalist agenda," said Ngonyama, referring to the song "We don't want the capitalist agenda, it killed Zuma", which was sung by the rebellious KwaZulu Natal province on Thursday.

Referring to the changed atmosphere yesterday, Ngonyama said: "Issues were resolved and people were satisfied that everything was answered, including the issue of (Zuma). There was a feeling among delegates that if they were given information in time, the matter would have been handled differently.

"It was clear that information was never imparted to the people sufficiently. After they were given an opportunity to engage, it turned out that people were OK and highly supportive of their president."

Ngonyama admitted that the party had underestimated the anger of the members.

ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe called the exercise a lesson for the ANC leaders.

"As a learning organisation we always analyse and draw necessary lessons out of each and every difficulty," he said.

"The NEC no doubt will look at whatever lessons can be drawn out of that."


 * The blows**


 * As Mbeki shares a stage with Zuma for the first time since sacking him, delegates at the conference sing pro-Zuma songs and chant: "Zuma is our president."
 * The conference decides not to accept Zuma's withdrawal from party structures pending the outcome of his corruption trial. The ANC deputy president is free to resume his functions in the NEC and as head of the deployment committee, which influences government appointments.
 * ANC says it is working on plans for Zuma's financial support, perhaps giving him a salary as deputy president.
 * Resolution urging a recall of Mbeki's power to appoint premiers and mayors awaits final approval by the plenary but a compromise is reached and it is shelved for further discussion.
 * Conference rejects proposals to relax labour laws, a move seen by the pro-Zuma camp as another blow against Mbeki.


 * From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=128&fArticleId=2611046