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Zuma ahead in ANC president race Zuma ahead in ANC president race
(about 16 hours later)
South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma is ahead in the race to become the next African National Congress leader, local media report. South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma is building strong support for his bid to become the next leader of the African National Congress (ANC).
He has reportedly secured the backing of five provinces, while the other four backed President Thabo Mbeki. His nomination was backed by party branches in five out of nine provinces, and also by the ANC's Women's League.
Winning the party leadership would make Mr Zuma favourite to become South Africa's president in 2009. Mr Zuma is leaving his rival, President Thabo Mbeki, behind in the voting.
The leadership election will be conducted by secret ballot at the ANC's national conference next month. These votes are not binding but are the strongest indication yet of which way delegates will turn in the formal vote at the ANC 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's comeback has confounded the commentators who wrote off his chances of further political success following rape charges being brought against him - charges of which he was acquitted.
Mr Zuma secured 2,270 votes while 1,396 went to Mr Mbeki, said 702 Talk Radio. Winning the party leadership would make him the favourite to become South Africa's president in 2009.
But the ANC says it has not received the official nominations. Strong showing
Divisive contest The Women's League's decision to back Mr Zuma contradicts a resolution it passed earlier this year that a woman should be elected ANC president at the party's conference next month.
JACOB ZUMA Top figure in fight against apartheidSeen as less business-friendly than MbekiSacked as deputy president in 2005Corruption trial stoppedAcquitted on rape charges Zuma on the rise?
The weekend's provincial results gave Mr Zuma 2,270 votes while 1,396 went to Mr Mbeki, said 702 Talk Radio.
The biggest upset was in Gauteng province - home to South Africa's commercial capital, Johannesburg - where Mr Zuma got 263 votes against 94 for the current president.
In his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, he got 580 votes to Mr Mbeki's nine, reported the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
The provinces of Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape have backed 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.
Mbeki 'rejected'
Analysts say these results are bad news for Mr Mbeki.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."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 apartheidSeen as less business-friendly than MbekiSacked as deputy president in 2005Corruption trial stoppedAcquitted on rape charges class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6070408.stm">Zuma on the rise? According to Susan Booysen of Johannesburg's Wits University: "I can't see how this cannot be the end of Mbeki's candidacy." 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. The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the ANC has rarely faced a leadership contest as divisive as this one.
Everything rests on the result of the secret ballot of some 4,000 ANC voting delegates at the 16-20 December conference in the town of Polokwane, he says.
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.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. Mr Mbeki is stepping down as national leader in 2009 after serving the legal limit of two terms, but observers say remaining ANC leader would leave him in a strong position to decide who becomes South Africa's next president.
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.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.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.The corruption trial was stopped but charges may be brought once more.
He was also charged with rape but acquitted.He was also charged with rape but acquitted.
Mr Zuma's supporters say the charges were designed to sideline him from the leadership race.Mr Zuma's supporters say the charges were designed to sideline him from the leadership race.