It was a Jacob Zuma we haven’t seen in a while, if ever.
Speaking at the African National Congress national general council (NGC) on Monday, ANC president Zuma said everything that needed to be said about issues that have been bothering the party for a while, much to the surprise of those who are not his inner circle.
There was a hint of “I told you so” among some of Zuma’s close advisers in the leadership of the ANC, while others admitted they were taken aback by Zuma’s brazenness in addressing the issues around the ANC Youth League, the alliance and general misbehaviour by leaders of the movement.
It was, however, anything but a triumphant Zuma who took to the stage mid-morning to address the more than 3Â 000 delegates and guests. The ovation he received from the crowd was clearly out of duty more than enthusiasm, and he neglected to crack a joke, which ordinarily would have diffused tensions.
Zuma began his speech at the place where he started his presidential campaign: the NGC held in Tshwane in 2005. This is where the ANC delegates showed former president Thabo Mbeki the middle finger and insisted that Zuma should remain as deputy president of the party, even though he had been fired as the second-in-charge of the country.
Mbeki’s recall
History books will record that event as the beginning of the rise of Zuma, and the man himself clearly has acute memories of this event. The debates and discussions became explosive as branches defended their authority, which they felt had been eroded and undermined by the leadership.
A Cabinet minister told the Mail & Guardian on Monday that it is the first time Zuma had given ANC delegates an opportunity to reflect on that chaotic NGC. “But then I realised he had to do it, he had to put everything before us,” the minister said.
Zuma’s trip down memory lane included the ANC policy conference in June 2007 and the watershed Polokwane conference in December that year.
He also spoke frankly about the recall of Mbeki, saying it was one of the most difficult political decisions the organisation had to take.
While talking, Zuma remained with his head bowed, clearly concentrating to get every word right. There were no interjections from the crowd either, and the first time they applauded was when he talked of the formation of the Congress of the People (Cope). In the recent past nothing had united the ANC like the opposition against Cope, and Zuma used this to his advantage.
He threw in a quote from former president Nelson Mandela about unity and tried his hand at some Shakespeare, but it was clear this was not a speech to impress delegates; this was a speech to tell it as it is, with no detours or vague insinuations. This was Zuma straight up, with no frills.
He even resisted irking the Christian community again, and said the ANC will rule for a very long time, and not the usual until Jesus comes.
Slowly the frostiness in the crowd started to thaw, and the biggest applause came when Zuma took ANC Youth League president Julius Malema to task: juniors must respect seniors. He elaborated and made it clear that he was not talking about age groups, but referring to the hierarchy of structures in the ANC — the youth league is junior, the national leadership is senior.
The look on Malema’s face said even he managed to do the maths.
Jovial Zuma
There was also no pussyfooting around alliance relations: “We [will] engage Cosatu after this NGC to remind one another of the role of the alliance and who we are as components.”
He squashed any hope that Cosatu might have of an electoral pact. “An electoral pact is to miss the point with regard to the significance of this alliance.”
Then the hard part was over and the more jovial Zuma emerged. He took a swig of water for the first time during his speech and, with a wide smile, he had his people back on his side.
Speeches like that come at a price. Malema was so upset about the attack against him that he didn’t participate in the singing after the speech. Vavi was a little more grown-up about it, but the fact remains they’ve been put in their places, and that is not somewhere they like to be.
For the first time Zuma said what he liked, and hopefully he has enough brazenness left to deal with the fallout that comes with such bravery.
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