Senior ANC leaders cautiously asked Congress of SA Trade Unions
general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi to leave the podium as he
broached intimate details of former prosecutions boss Bulelani
Ngcuka and his wife former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
"They cant tell us that between those sheets they didn't discuss
this matter [political conspiracy against Jacob Zuma]," Vavi said.
Addressing a crowd of ANC supporters gathered outside Luthuli
house in Johannesburg on Monday, Vavi said the Ngcukas, along with
others said to have been involved in the conspiracy against Zuma,
should be brought to book.
Mlambo-Ngcuka was installed as deputy president of the country
after Zuma was "released" ahead of the first round of corruption
charges that were brought against him. She resigned after former
president Thabo Mbeki stepped down last year.
Ngcuka controversially said that they had a prima facie case
against Zuma but it was not winnable, when he was National Director
of Public Prosecutions.
Transcripts of telephone calls released by acting NDPP Mokotedi
Mpshe, suggest interference by Ngcuka in the timing of when to
charge Zuma for a second time.
"They were conniving... and I feel Zuma, as well as millions of
workers who felt there was something untoward in this matter, have
been vindicated," Vavi said.
When he dwelled on the "between the sheets" discussion of the
Ngcukas, smiling senior ANC leaders behind him patted him on the
shoulder and he immediately told the crowd: "I have been told to
leave".
He then handed over to SA Communist Party general-secretary Blade Nzimande who said: "All those involved in this political conspiracy should be arrested."
He also said the media should "hang their heads in shame".
"Those editors do not deserve to be editors," Nzimande said to applause from the crowd.
Clad in yellow, black and green ANC t-shirts as well as red
National Education, Health and Allied Workers Unions t-shirts, the
crowd of ANC supporters had just arrived at Luthuli House following
a march through the streets of central Johannesburg.
The march, which started at the Mary Fitzgerald Square where the crowd had earlier danced and sang in celebration of Zuma's victory, brought traffic to a standstill.
However, motorists were seemingly not irritated by the traffic congestion as they clasped their fists up in the air while taxi
drivers hooted in celebration of Zuma's victory.
As they snaked their way through the streets leading up to
Luthuli House, dancing and singing struggle songs, hawkers and
shoppers alike lined the streets watching them.
Others joined in the jubilant mood by whistling, and blowing
vuvuzelas, while metro police officers were controlling the traffic
flow.