Johannesburg - The Congress of SA Students (Cosas) came out in support of a second term for President Jacob Zuma on Friday.
Acting Cosas president Mandlenkosi Mondlane said in a statement the student organisation was calling for “unity and stability” in the African National Congress.
“Comrade Jacob Zuma and [ANC secretary general] Gwede Mantashe must come back with a collective leadership that will lead us to the second stage of our revolution. Let all branches of the ANC rally behind our leaders,” he said.
“We remain very clear in this leadership - [ahead of] comrades Zuma and Mantashe lays the task of the national democratic revolution.”
The ANC holds its national elective conference in Mangaung in December, where Zuma will stand for a second term.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has been nominated by some in the party, but it is not yet clear if he will accept the nomination.
Nominations for the ANC's leadership officially close on November 26.
Mondlane was scheduled to speak to reporters at the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters on Friday morning, but was prevented by security.
Several heated discussions took place between Mondlane and ANC officials in the foyer of the building.
An official eventually ordered Mondlane and his staff to remove tables and chairs set up for the conference.
Cosas secretary general Tshiamo Tsotetsi said Mondlane did not inform him or the ANC staff that he was going to host the briefing at Luthuli House.
“There will be no briefing. I am the secretary general of Cosas, and I did not know about this.”
Sapa