Zuma to court grassroots in battle for ANC
Singing and dancing with hundreds of supporters in his Zulu heartland, South African President Jacob Zuma didn’t look like a man facing the biggest challenge to his leadership since he came to power nearly a decade ago. Zuma drew unprecedented criticism from the top echelons of the African National Congress last week when he fired respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan and other cabinet members in favour of loyalists, opening a division in the party that has ruled since the end of white-minority rule in 1994.
In a gamble that could split the party further, Zuma is now expected to start seeking support from the ANC grassroots for his chosen successor to be picked at a national conference in December.
Zuma is expected to endorse his former wife, ANC politician Nkosazana DlaminiZuma. The two rival factions that have emerged in the ANC since Gordhan’s dismissal are now focused on winning the vote at that conference, party sources said.
Crowds chanted Zuma’s name on Saturday after he unveiled a new housing project in a poor suburb of Pietermaritzburg. Voters in places like this want basic services, and feel disconnected from investors and politicians who condemned the removal of intellectual technocrats like Gordhan.
“There was no mistake. All the president did was give another minister a chance,” said Lindokahle Mbele, a 29-year-old construction worker who supports Zuma.
“The president is saying he will address youth issues. What people need is housing and assistance at school.
“Black people didn’t receive assistance. I think now they will get help.”
As they seek party and public backing, Zuma and his new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba have promised “radical socio-economic transformation”.
Few details have emerged but it is expected to include pledges to redistribute land and wealth to poorer black South Africans who are frustrated by the racial inequality that persists 23 years after the end of apartheid. It will be difficult, however, to implement reforms in a divided ANC and with the economy expected to take a hit after Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle unsettled investors.
“What ‘radical transformation’ entails is still unclear to many outsiders,” said Jeffrey Schultz, economist at BNP Paribas.
The rand has fallen six per cent in the last week. Credit ratings agencies, who liked Gordhan, are expected to downgrade South Africa to “junk” status soon.
Zuma faces a difficult period, with protests against him planned in cities this week and a possible vote of no confidence in parliament. Three of the six, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, SecretaryGeneral Gwede Mantashe and TreasuryGeneral Zweli Mkhize, all openly criticised Zuma for sacking Gordhan.
Most analysts expect Zuma to survive until the December conference when his second term as ANC leader ends. He is due to remain national president until 2019.
Zuma’s priority is to ensure his chosen candidate succeeds him as party leader so he can complete his presidential term and avoid scrutiny over corruption charges his opponents would like reinstated, ANC sources said.
Zuma’s faction would back former African Union Chairwoman DlaminiZuma, while a rival section of the party will likely support Ramaphosa, a trade unionist turned business tycoon.
“He is trying to set the stage to anoint his successor,” political analyst Prince Mashele said.
The December vote will thousands of ANC members.
At least 90 per cent of them will come from ANC branches where Zuma is strong.
Removing Gordhan was popular with parts of Zuma’s faction, who say the finance minister was too cosy with investors they associate with white elites who control much of the country’s wealth. Zuma was praised by the ANC Youth and Women’s Leagues, both important in rallying support among party branches. Many of the incoming ministers have strong local constituencies. involve