Widespread+support+for+beleaguered+Zuma,+The+Star

The Star, Johannesburg, May 02, 2006 //Edition 2//
=Widespread support for beleaguered Zuma evident at gathering=


 * Sipho Khumalo**

Political and trade union leaders and other people attending the May Day rally in Durban have expressed resounding support for the embattled ANC deputy president, Jacob Zuma.

The leadership of the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the ANC declared yesterday that they were firmly behind Zuma in his two trials.

Zuma's rape trial is currently under way in the Johannesburg High Court while his corruption trial is set to begin in Durban in July.

The sentiments expressed at the May Day rally, held at Curries Fountain stadium in Durban, indicated widespread support for Zuma within the ANC-led tripartite alliance.

Apart from supportive speeches delivered by the leadership, workers who had braved the chilly weather to attend the event occasionally sang "uZuma lo is my president" (Zuma is my president) and chanted other supportive slogans.

In his address to the rally, ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula hit out at those who referred to Zuma as "Zulu boy", saying Zuma was the national leader of the ANC.

"We are not afraid, we support Zuma and we will not be blackmailed because of our support for Zuma. Our support for Zuma is a support for a principle," said Mbalula.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the federation had decided not to comment on the rape trial against Zuma.

"But I would like to appeal to all, including the media, that all of us must support the rule of law. If Zuma is found guilty on the rape charge, bad luck to him.

"But if he is not found guilty, we must all accept that he therefore qualifies to hold any position in South Africa.

"But if we all in the alliance say we support him, we must show that support in deeds and not in words only," said Vavi.

ANC national executive committee member Amos Masondo - also the mayor of Johannesburg - who also addressed the rally, declared the committee's backing for Zuma but did not elaborate on the nature of the support.

The committee is generally understood to be divided on the Zuma issue and whether he should stand for election to the organisation's all powerful presidency at the party's conference in 2007.

Zuma was fired as the deputy president of the country by President Thabo Mbeki in June last year after Judge Hilary Squires ruled that there was a generally corrupt relationship between him and his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, who was convicted on fraud and corruption charges.


 * From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3226582**

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