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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Winnie Mandela proposes ANC deal | Winnie Mandela proposes ANC deal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The ex-wife of ex-South African President Nelson Mandela has suggested a compromise to ease divisions in the leadership of the ruling party. | The ex-wife of ex-South African President Nelson Mandela has suggested a compromise to ease divisions in the leadership of the ruling party. |
| Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said current national president and African National Congress (ANC) leader Thabo Mbeki should head the party until elections. | Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said current national president and African National Congress (ANC) leader Thabo Mbeki should head the party until elections. |
| His ANC deputy, ex-Deputy President Jacob Zuma, should become presidential candidate in 2009, she said. | His ANC deputy, ex-Deputy President Jacob Zuma, should become presidential candidate in 2009, she said. |
| Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma have fought a bitter campaign for the ANC leadership. | Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma have fought a bitter campaign for the ANC leadership. |
| Correspondents say the move is seen as a face-saver for Mr Mbeki, who is currently trailing Mr Zuma in polls. | Correspondents say the move is seen as a face-saver for Mr Mbeki, who is currently trailing Mr Zuma in polls. |
| 'Too late' | 'Too late' |
| In a letter to ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe, Madikizela-Mandela said she believed there had been "a near-total breakdown in the historical discipline and focus of the movement", ahead of the 16 - 20 December party conference in Polokwane. | In a letter to ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe, Madikizela-Mandela said she believed there had been "a near-total breakdown in the historical discipline and focus of the movement", ahead of the 16 - 20 December party conference in Polokwane. |
| The president could offer Mr Zuma immunity - it's within the president's right Analyst William Mervyn-Gumede | The president could offer Mr Zuma immunity - it's within the president's right Analyst William Mervyn-Gumede |
| "There has been an unprecedented level of self-indulgence in out-of-turn public utterances, attack and counter-attack and the apparent normalisation of un-comradely behaviour and rhetoric at levels and intensity not before seen in the long history of our movement," she said. | "There has been an unprecedented level of self-indulgence in out-of-turn public utterances, attack and counter-attack and the apparent normalisation of un-comradely behaviour and rhetoric at levels and intensity not before seen in the long history of our movement," she said. |
| However, South African political analyst William Gumede says while Mrs Madikizela-Mandela is an important power broker, the proposal is unsustainable. | |
| "I think it's come too late," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "I think it's come too late," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| "Mr Mbeki's group don't want to see Mr Zuma in the presidency, and the other way round; Mrs Madikizela-Mandela's offer is the status quo so it is not a long-term solution." | "Mr Mbeki's group don't want to see Mr Zuma in the presidency, and the other way round; Mrs Madikizela-Mandela's offer is the status quo so it is not a long-term solution." |
| Mrs Madikizela-Mandela expressed concern at the ANC infighting | Mrs Madikizela-Mandela expressed concern at the ANC infighting |
| The two men publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. | The two men publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. |
| He could potentially still face charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. If there were a compromise, Mr Zuma would have to be offered some kind of immunity from prosecution and financial settlement in the medium term, Mr Mervyn-Gumede says. | He could potentially still face charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. If there were a compromise, Mr Zuma would have to be offered some kind of immunity from prosecution and financial settlement in the medium term, Mr Mervyn-Gumede says. |
| "The president could offer Mr Zuma immunity - it's within the president's right. The problem for Mr Zuma is that Mr Mbeki is president and it is unlikely to happen." | "The president could offer Mr Zuma immunity - it's within the president's right. The problem for Mr Zuma is that Mr Mbeki is president and it is unlikely to happen." |
| Divisive | Divisive |
| Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but correspondents say if he remains ANC leader he will be in a good position to decide who succeeds him as national leader. | Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but correspondents say if he remains ANC leader he will be in a good position to decide who succeeds him as national leader. |
| If Mr Zuma wins, he will be favourite to become president in 2009. | If Mr Zuma wins, he will be favourite to become president in 2009. |
| He already has the support of five provinces as well as the ANC Women's League and Youth League. | He already has the support of five provinces as well as the ANC Women's League and Youth League. |
| Mr Zuma is backed by those who want the government to do more to alleviate poverty and criticise Mr Mbeki for being too pro-business. | Mr Zuma is backed by those who want the government to do more to alleviate poverty and criticise Mr Mbeki for being too pro-business. |
| Mr Mbeki has the support of four provincial branches. | Mr Mbeki has the support of four provincial branches. |
| The race for leader has widely been considered one of the most divisive in the 95-year history of the ANC. | The race for leader has widely been considered one of the most divisive in the 95-year history of the ANC. |