ZUMA AHEAD IN ANC PRESIDENT RACE!
Jacob Zuma is seen as less business friendly than Mbeki. South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma is ahead in the race to become the next African National Congress leader, local media report.
He has reportedly secured the backing of five provinces, while the other four backed President Thabo Mbeki.
Winning the party leadership would make Mr Zuma favourite to become South Africa's president in 2009.
The leadership election will be conducted by secret ballot at the ANC's national conference next month.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says the weekend provincial results are the "hardest information" to date on how the 4,075 ANC voting delegates are likely to cast their votes.
Mr Zuma secured 2,270 votes while 1,396 went to Mr Mbeki, said 702 Talk Radio.
But the ANC says it has not received the official nominations.
Analysts say these results are bad news for Mr Mbeki.
"This is a rejection of Thabo Mbeki by the ANC," said Pretoria-based political commentator Xolela Mangcu, according to the AFP news agency.
He has reportedly secured the backing of five provinces, while the other four backed President Thabo Mbeki.
Winning the party leadership would make Mr Zuma favourite to become South Africa's president in 2009.
The leadership election will be conducted by secret ballot at the ANC's national conference next month.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says the weekend provincial results are the "hardest information" to date on how the 4,075 ANC voting delegates are likely to cast their votes.
Mr Zuma secured 2,270 votes while 1,396 went to Mr Mbeki, said 702 Talk Radio.
But the ANC says it has not received the official nominations.
Analysts say these results are bad news for Mr Mbeki.
"This is a rejection of Thabo Mbeki by the ANC," said Pretoria-based political commentator Xolela Mangcu, according to the AFP news agency.
JACOB ZUMA
Top figure in fight against apartheid
Seen as less business-friendly than Mbeki
Sacked as deputy president in 2005
Corruption trial stopped
Acquitted on rape charges
According to Susan Booysen of Johannesburg's Wits University: "I can't see how this cannot be the end of Mbeki's candidacy."
The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the ANC has rarely faced a leadership contest as divisive as this one and that everything rests on the result of the secret ballot at the 16-20 December conference in Polokwane.
If there is deadlock, our correspondent says it will open up the possibility of a compromise candidate, such as Cyril Ramaphosa or Tokyo Sexwale, around whom the ANC can unite.
SABC says Mr Zuma got overwhelming support from the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday evening.
In his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, he got 580 votes to Mr Mbeki's nine, while in Gauteng he got 263 votes against 94 for the current president.
The provinces of Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape have also indicated they will back Mr Zuma, who already enjoys the support of the ANC Youth League and the powerful Confederation of South African Trades Unions (Cosatu).
Mr Mbeki has so far won nominations from the Eastern and Western Cape, Limpopo and the North West.
He is stepping down as national leader in 2009 after serving two terms but observers say remaining ANC leader would leave him in a strong position to decide who becomes South Africa's next president.
Some ANC supporters and officials say Mr Mbeki is too business-friendly and want the government to do more to help the poor.
Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy leader in 2005, amid allegations of corruption.
The corruption trial was stopped but charges may be brought once more.
He was also charged with rape but acquitted.
Mr Zuma's supporters say the charges were designed to sideline him from the leadership race.
BBC NEWS REPORT.The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the ANC has rarely faced a leadership contest as divisive as this one and that everything rests on the result of the secret ballot at the 16-20 December conference in Polokwane.
If there is deadlock, our correspondent says it will open up the possibility of a compromise candidate, such as Cyril Ramaphosa or Tokyo Sexwale, around whom the ANC can unite.
SABC says Mr Zuma got overwhelming support from the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday evening.
In his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, he got 580 votes to Mr Mbeki's nine, while in Gauteng he got 263 votes against 94 for the current president.
The provinces of Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape have also indicated they will back Mr Zuma, who already enjoys the support of the ANC Youth League and the powerful Confederation of South African Trades Unions (Cosatu).
Mr Mbeki has so far won nominations from the Eastern and Western Cape, Limpopo and the North West.
He is stepping down as national leader in 2009 after serving two terms but observers say remaining ANC leader would leave him in a strong position to decide who becomes South Africa's next president.
Some ANC supporters and officials say Mr Mbeki is too business-friendly and want the government to do more to help the poor.
Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy leader in 2005, amid allegations of corruption.
The corruption trial was stopped but charges may be brought once more.
He was also charged with rape but acquitted.
Mr Zuma's supporters say the charges were designed to sideline him from the leadership race.
Labels: South-Africa Mbeki Zuma Corruption Trial Leaadership Rape ANC President Charges Supporters
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