A popular groundswell is building behind Jacob Zuma, the former South African deputy president who was recently dismissed amid corruption allegations.
Leftwing supporters of Mr Zuma on Tuesday launched a fund to pay his legal and other costs when he goes on trial to face two counts of corruption. The launch came a day after Cosatu, South Africa’s main trade unions federation and the ruling African National Congress’s partner in government, called on president Thabo Mbeki to reinstate his former deputy and prevent what it called a “political trial”.
The backlash represents the biggest internal political challenge yet to Mr Mbeki, who was elected to a second five-year term last year. It has highlighted discontent within the ruling camp with the president’s political style and economic policies, as well as many South Africans’ distrust of their new democratic institutions.
Cosatu yesterday claimed that Mr Zuma’s trial had been “predetermined by neoliberals using their control over key components of the state machinery”, including the judiciary. “We will ensure that whenever Comrade Zuma appears in court, our people will demonstrate en masse,” the federation’s central committee declared in a resolution.
More: news.ft.com
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