THE ANC in eThekwini has publicly endorsed President Jacob Zuma for a second term with less than four months before the party's crunch elective conference in Mangaung

Regional secretary Bheki Ntshangase said yesterday: "As the region, we are united behind the ANC and its NEC, which is led by President Jacob Zuma.

"Our regional executive committee is happy with the provincial leadership and that of President Zuma. Our organisation and the country are in capable hands ..."

The region is the biggest and strongest with more than 100 branches and more than 66,000 members, which constitutes a huge portion of the province's 252 668 members. It is anticipated that the region and the province will send a huge delegation to Mangaung in December.

Zuma's endorsement comes at a time when the ANC has barred its members from openly supporting any candidate until the party opens the succession debate next month. The leadership battle is believed to be a three-horse race between Zuma, his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe and NEC member Tokyo Sexwale.

While Motlanthe has not publicly availed himself for nomination, the campaign for Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale has already taken off, with his supporters across the country mobilising support. Sexwale is taking another shot at the presidential race following his bid five years ago in Polokwane, where he later withdrew.

Ntshangase heaped praises on Zuma yesterday, saying it was for the first time under his leadership that they have all provinces focusing on a presidential infrastructure commission.

"We have seen the process of the implementation of the National Health Insurance under the very same leadership of President Zuma, and the implementation of the National Planning Commission.

"We see no reason to doubt his leadership moving forward. We have confidence in the leadership that was elected in Polokwane."

Meanwhile, the police task team appointed to probe political assassination in KZN has arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly conspiring to murder Wandile Mkhize, an ANC councillor and Hibiscus Coast municipality chief whip.

"He appeared in court last Friday and the case was remanded until next Tuesday. His identity is being withheld so as not to compromise the investigation," Captain Thulani Zwane said yesterday.

Mkhize and ANC member Nhlankanipho Ntshangase were shot last month on their return from an ANC policy conference in Midrand. While Mkhize died on the scene, Ntshangase died three weeks later in hospital.