2005-11-29,+SACP+keeps+its+distance+from+beleaguered+Zuma,+Star

= **SACP keeps its distance from beleaguered Zuma** =
 * Nzimande denies that party ever backed him for presidential post**

The Star, Johannesburg, November 28, 2005 By Siyabonga Mkhwanazi and Christelle Terreblanche

In a move seen as further evidence of Jacob Zuma's dwindling support, the SA Communist Party has come out in support of its alliance partner Cosatu in saying it never backed him to become president of the country.

Both have emerged from key meetings with senior executives taking positions that seem to contradict their fervent earlier support for the ANC deputy president, which has divided the ANC-led alliance.

Speaking to the media in Johannesburg yesterday after a central committee meeting, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said the party's support for Zuma was never about his ascending to the highest office in the ANC and the country

But he reaffirmed the SACP's support for him in this "difficult period" he was facing as ANC deputy president.

"This support was never understood by the SACP to be support for a presidential succession campaign," Nzimande said.

"Nor have we ever understood this support to be factional, or to be directed against any other grouping within the alliance."

The sudden drop in support for Zuma followed revelations two weeks ago that he had been accused of raping a family friend. A docket has since been forwarded to the National Prosecuting Authority, and Zuma is expected to make a statement tomorrow.

At the same briefing, the SACP reiterated the view that a political conspiracy underlay the corruption charges against Zuma.

In addition, the party denied it had grilled Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils about his axing of three senior spies over their surveillance of prominent ANC member and businessman Saki Macozoma.

Heated arguments behind closed doors, and continuing internal divisions over Zuma, are understood to have preceded the turnarounds by Cosatu and the SACP.

Two senior SACP leaders, deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin and Young Communist League (YCL) deputy national secretary Mazibuko Jara, recently voiced their concern over support for Zuma in internal discussion papers leaked to the media.

Nzimande, flanked by Cronin, YCL leader Buti Manamela and nine provincial treasurers, said: "The SACP's approach to the position of comrade Zuma continues to be informed by the position we adopted at our previous central committee in August.

"At that meeting, the SACP endorsed the resolutions of the ANC's national general council that reaffirmed comrade Zuma's position as deputy president of the ANC and committed the ANC to support for him through the difficult period he is facing." The SACP said it would continue to offer "principled support" to Zuma. This support would be co-ordinated within the alliance's constitutional structures, added Nzimande, who, unlike Cosatu's leaders, accepted the ANC national executive committee's decision last weekend to tighten the reins on activities in support of for Zuma.

Nzimande said the alliance partners also needed to discuss and find remedies for perceptions that there was a conspiracy against Zuma.

"However, perceptions of a conspiracy are not just rooted in irresponsible and factional rumour-mongering" - there was also a widespread concern that there was an uneven handling of corruption cases, and that some people were immune from prosecution. Nzimande added that the last so-called 10-a-side meeting between alliance partners agreed there was "a widespread perception of a conspiracy against Zuma".

"And that perception still exists. Therefore the way forward is to examine what could be the reason behind the perception that there could be a conspiracy."

SACP leaders dismissed reports in newspapers yesterday that it had called in Kasrils - who is also a member of the SACP central committee - to explain the National Intelligence Agency's role in the Zuma saga.

From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=129&fArticleId=3012901