By Moshoeshoe Monare
Jacob Zuma is a bitter man who wants to hold accountable those who plotted against him.
This is according to his close allies in the African National Congress-led alliance who attended celebrations at Zuma's Forest Town, Johannesburg, home after his rape acquittal.
However, Zuma has consistently refrained from hanging the party's dirty linen out in public, and when he appeared before the local and world media on Tuesday, he was not prepared to say much publicly about what he believes is an alleged conspiracy against him.
Zuma is said to be angry at former cabinet colleague and comrade, Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, who was to testify for the prosecution in the rape trial.
"He was very upset about this," said a senior leader in the alliance.
"His main concern was how (Kasrils) was prepared to testify in what turned out to be false, fabricated allegations against Zuma."
Kasrils was on the list of the state witnesses but was later withdrawn. His spokesperson, Lorna Daniels, said the minister was not prepared to comment on rumours.
Zuma, who will resume his full functions as the second most powerful leader in the ANC, wants a special ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting.
At it, he hopes to show there were "comrades within" who helped to plot against him.
Shortly after The Star was told this, the ANC confirmed the special NEC meeting for Sunday to discuss Zuma's letter to secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe "regarding the resumption of his duties".
Zuma was "too exhausted" to comment about his true feelings on Tuesday, but close allies confirmed that what distressed him was the fact that in the past six months he could not "differentiate between who is comrade and who is foe".
While Zuma said he was not angry, he hinted that he was a victim of a political plot.
Asked why he had fallen into the plotters' trap by sleeping with the complainant, he said that if people wanted to deal with you, they would always find something against you.
Without directly admitting that he would want to become the next president of the ANC, it is clear his acquittal has fuelled his ambitions and those of his supporters.
His apology for having unprotected sex is seen by political commentator Adam Habib as an attempt to convince the public that he is still fit to lead the country.
Both Cosatu and the South African Communist Party were quick to welcome his apology, in what appeared to be a co-ordinated strategy to ensure that his public image is rehabilitated.
"I apologised. What else must I do? I have never wanted to be a leader - the ANC decides. It will decide after all these (things) whether it thinks it can give me the duties or not - that's the main point.
"Me, I am ready for any task that the ANC gives me," Zuma said when asked whether his sexual behaviour, including unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman, made him a suitable candidate for the presidency.
President Thabo Mbeki has repeatedly said he would want to be succeeded by a woman president - a comment interpreted by political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi as a move to preclude Zuma from the succession race.
It seems Zuma is aware of this, since - at his press conference - he reduced Mbeki's comment to a personal opinion.
"Any member of the ANC has the right to have his or her views about this matter.
"But once they are put within the structures of the movement, that's where we discuss and take decisions," he said.
While Mbeki is generally perceived as aloof, Zuma said his popularity was due to the fact that he identified with the people.
"I have been part of the people and fighting with them. People felt that Zuma's right was undermined, and that's what made people stand up."
"That's how people identify with me, as one of them, and as a person who would fight to the last degree with them," he said.
Zuma also indicated he would take part in the task team that would probe the controversial hoax emails, purported to have been written by senior ANC and government officials to taint Zuma and Motlanthe.
"I might appear before the commission (the task team) that is currently taking place," he said.
The emails, which were declared a hoax by Inspector-General Zolile Ngcakani, and endorsed by Mbeki, have caused a rift between Motlanthe and the president.