Premier speaks about ‘plot’to oust Zuma

KZN premier Zweli Mkhize denies being part of a plot to oust President Jacob Zuma. Picture: Sandile Ndlovu.

KZN premier Zweli Mkhize denies being part of a plot to oust President Jacob Zuma. Picture: Sandile Ndlovu.

Published Jan 1, 2012

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KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize has denied being part of a “plot” to oust President Zuma, and has also scoffed at persistent rumours that he will soon leave office and take up a diplomatic post in New Zealand.

Mkhize, who has been linked to the presidential ambitions of Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, reaffirmed his support for the ANC president “now and all the way” to the party’s elective conference to be held in Mangaung in December – ending months of speculation about a “fallout” between Mkhize and Zuma.

Mkhize, who has dismissed claims of a fallout as a “blue lie”, told the Tribune on Friday: “There’s never ever been such a problem. Never. I was never part of any plot, that’s number one. Number two, there’s never been even a word between myself and the president (about that). And we continue to support the president and his entire team. We voted for them, and we give them continuous support. And we think they’re doing a good job.

“There are lots of challenges, but we don’t believe we could have found another leadership that could have done better under the circumstances, and that’s it.”

Mkhize said the succession question had yet to come up for discussion within the party.

“At the moment we’re happy with the team… when it’s time to discuss it we’ll look at the issues, but at the moment there’s nothing to make us feel that we should be unhappy with the current leadership.”

Mkhize dismissed the rumours as mere posturing by political opponents.

“The stories that are being spread around in newsrooms… some of the sources must have a bit of fun. But it’s got no significance or meaning in terms of our situation.”

Responding to widespread reports that he is destined for a diplomatic posting to New Zealand, Mkhize said, “I’m in this term (as premier). I’ll finish this term, full stop. People create stories, especially if they think the media will publish them, and this is one of those. There’s never been such a discussion… it’s all junk.”

Going into a potentially tumultuous year for the ANC, Mkhize made an appeal for discipline.

“In general terms, we’ll call for tolerance. People must be tolerant of different views, even if they don’t like them… It’s not the correct approach of the organisation (ANC) for people to show unruly conduct. So, I would say, ‘let’s be tolerant. Let’s deal with issues in the right forums’.”

Earlier this year, the Sunday Independent reported that it had seen a damning 22-page document, which claimed that suspended police chief Bheki Cele had dumped Zuma in favour of the future party leadership of Sexwale.

The report, the Sunday Independent reported, had allegedly emanated from a covert intelligence investigation into police National Commissioner Bheki Cele.

The report said Mkhize was also closely associated with Sexwale, and their shared interest was to get into a position of ultimate power.

“Tokyo is aiming to be the next president and he is doing everything and using everyone possible to discredit President Zuma (covertly). Zweli Mkhize is touted as his deputy president,” reads the report, which Mkhize later dismissed as the work of information peddlers. - Agiza Hlongwane and Amanda Khoza

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