Cosatu backs Zuma in graft row

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s biggest labour federation threw its weight behind Deputy President Jacob Zuma yesterday, rejecting calls he step down over a graft row that has split the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Zuma’s former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was convicted last week on charges he paid Zuma around 1,3 million rand for political favours and solicited a bribe from an arms firm, which prosecutors said was in exchange for Zuma’s protection from a government probe. Shaik was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in jail.But Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi said Zuma should not be forced to quit until he has faced charges in court.Prosecutors said in 2003 they had evidence against Zuma but were uncertain of securing a victory in court.”The constitution of our country says all individuals shall have a right to a fair hearing …all are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Vavi told a meeting of some 500 union members.”We will have to rally behind him (Zuma) until the day he is brought to court and he is found guilty,” he said to applause.For more than 50 years the ANC’s deputy president has gone on to be party president – and national president since 1994.But the Shaik conviction has damaged Zuma’s prospects to succeed President Thabo Mbeki in 2009.The Zuma saga pits other ANC presidential hopefuls and those who view him as unfit to rule against fervent Zuma supporters like Cosatu and the Communist Party – both partners in the ANC’s tripartite alliance – who revere him for his unifying role in the often tense relationship with the ANC.Vavi said its backing had nothing to do with Zuma’s popularity within Cosatu.”The allegations against him have not been tested …and yet we are being asked to sentence him to life in prison or to death,” Vavi said.”It’s a matter of principle.”Local media have quoted unnamed senior ANC members saying that Zuma had been given a choice of quitting or being fired by Mbeki after he returns from abroad today, but Zuma has remained defiant, protesting his innocence.Newspaper reports yesterday said Zuma had found support from former President Nelson Mandela, who had been called in to quell tensions between the pro and anti-Zuma factions in the ANC, and said Zuma was expected to fight to keep his position.Zuma was due in parliament later yesterday, where he was likely to face more questions on his relationship with Shaik, described by prosecutors as “generally corrupt”.- Nampa-ReutersShaik was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in jail.But Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi said Zuma should not be forced to quit until he has faced charges in court.Prosecutors said in 2003 they had evidence against Zuma but were uncertain of securing a victory in court.”The constitution of our country says all individuals shall have a right to a fair hearing …all are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Vavi told a meeting of some 500 union members.”We will have to rally behind him (Zuma) until the day he is brought to court and he is found guilty,” he said to applause.For more than 50 years the ANC’s deputy president has gone on to be party president – and national president since 1994.But the Shaik conviction has damaged Zuma’s prospects to succeed President Thabo Mbeki in 2009.The Zuma saga pits other ANC presidential hopefuls and those who view him as unfit to rule against fervent Zuma supporters like Cosatu and the Communist Party – both partners in the ANC’s tripartite alliance – who revere him for his unifying role in the often tense relationship with the ANC.Vavi said its backing had nothing to do with Zuma’s popularity within Cosatu.”The allegations against him have not been tested …and yet we are being asked to sentence him to life in prison or to death,” Vavi said.”It’s a matter of principle.”Local media have quoted unnamed senior ANC members saying that Zuma had been given a choice of quitting or being fired by Mbeki after he returns from abroad today, but Zuma has remained defiant, protesting his innocence.Newspaper reports yesterday said Zuma had found support from former President Nelson Mandela, who had been called in to quell tensions between the pro and anti-Zuma factions in the ANC, and said Zuma was expected to fight to keep his position.Zuma was due in parliament later yesterday, where he was likely to face more questions on his relationship with Shaik, described by prosecutors as “generally corrupt”.- Nampa-Reuters