Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has reaffirmed its decision to nominate the party's deputy president Jacob Zuma to stand for the presidential elections.
The national conference to nominate the candidates will be held in December in Polokwane, Limpopo.
Speaking to hundreds of Zuma supporters and family members at his 65th birthday bash in Durban on Friday, Senzo Mchunu, the provincial secretary, said: "You have lost your own life, you are ours, you belong to us, and so allow us to tell you what to do.
"Here in KwaZulu-Natal, we would be telling you what to do for us soon, and for the country, and you must obey," said Mchunu.
Zwelinzima Vavi, general secretary of Cosatu, reiterated his support for Zuma.
"I am a Zuma supporter, like millions of other Cosatu, ANC and SACP supporters, and I am proud of it."
Vavi described Zuma as someone who is an "organic intellectual".
"We would be around to support you against all those who are hell-bent to destroy you," said Vavi.
Provincial executive members of the ANC and traditional leaders from Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga were also at the party.
Zuma and SACP general general, Blade Nzimande, bashed the media saying it created things that did not exist.
Nzimande criticised the media for creating the impression Zuma was campaigning when he recently visited a group of Afrikaners.
Zuma said the media spoke daily of the succession debate, of which he was "unaware".
l See page 6