Zuma misses the point about Mbeki's successor

Mighty Madasa MP


The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) says the public has the right to influence the choice of ANC leadership: “Zuma is wrong to think that the ANC leadership is exclusively an ANC matter.”

Zuma entered Mbeki’s succession debate at an ANC’s Gauteng conference at the weekend. He acknowledged that the president of South Africa should be elected by everybody. But, he also said that the ruling ANC would elect its own president and those who wished to participate in that process should join the ANC.

“Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, was wrong when he said that the ANC leadership is purely an ANC matter. Yes, it is the prerogative of the ANC to choose its leadership. But when such leaders are elected as public representatives we, as non-ANC members of the public, also have a stake.” said Mighty Madasa ACDP MP.

“The matter does concern the public because the president of the ANC is likely to become the president of South Africa. We as the South African public have no direct means of influencing the election of the ANC leader, except by expressing our views in the media.”

“We have a democratic right to influence our fellow ANC South Africans to make the ‘right’ choice. We do so because the ANC choice may become our choice too.”

“It is in this light that we want to ensure that Mbeki’s successor is a suitable candidate, not just on ANC policy and discipline (as important as these are), but also on our opinion of suitability.”

“South Africa’s president is required to do more than just being a disciplined ANC cadre. He represents the country internationally. He becomes the face of the country and, therefore, all South Africans are affected. The president must be the right man or woman for this season of African and global politics, and hopefully, a loyal ANC member too.”