Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRETORIA4180
2007-12-12 13:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
ANC ELECTION: IDEA OF COMPROMISE STILL ALIVE, BUT
how-toVZCZCXRO9715 RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSA #4180 3461311 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 121311Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2950 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 5143 RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 9428 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004180
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM SF
SUBJECT: ANC ELECTION: IDEA OF COMPROMISE STILL ALIVE, BUT
BARELY
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Don Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004180
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM SF
SUBJECT: ANC ELECTION: IDEA OF COMPROMISE STILL ALIVE, BUT
BARELY
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Don Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
1. (SBU) Efforts within the ANC to find a "compromise
candidate" for ANC president have devolved into finding
simply a compromise between Mbeki and Zuma, and not a very
obvious one at that. Press reports on 09 December noted that
former first lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has launched a
last-minute bid to broker a truce between the two
front-runners by convincing them to remain in their
respective positions as ANC President and ANC Deputy
President for another five years. Winnie said publicly she
is trying to save the party, which is becoming increasingly
characterized by behavior that disregards what the ANC stands
for: "Sisters are attacking sisters and comrades are at each
others' throats."
2. (C) Winnie's spokesperson confirmed on 10 December that
both Mbeki and Zuma have agreed to meet with her sometime
before the conference, albeit separately. Few, however, have
confidence that her efforts will bear fruit. UNISA Professor
Dirk Kotze told POLOFF on 11 December that he had heard
Winnie was approached by a handful of senior ANC members who
still believe her seniority could influence Mbeki and Zuma.
However, Kotze cautions that, "not only is Winnie's proposal
unrealistic, it isn't even a compromise." Kotze believes
Winnie only accepted the challenge with the hope that it
would boost her profile and influence within the ANC.
3. (C) COMMENT: Winnie's gamble has paid off. No one,
probably not even Winnie, believes that this latest attempt
to find a compromise has any chance of succeeding. However,
her efforts to "save the party" have received an enormous
amount of positive press coverage. She has been nominated
for the National Executive Committee by both the Zuma and
Mbeki camps and is likely to be rewarded. END COMMENT.
BOST
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM SF
SUBJECT: ANC ELECTION: IDEA OF COMPROMISE STILL ALIVE, BUT
BARELY
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Don Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
1. (SBU) Efforts within the ANC to find a "compromise
candidate" for ANC president have devolved into finding
simply a compromise between Mbeki and Zuma, and not a very
obvious one at that. Press reports on 09 December noted that
former first lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has launched a
last-minute bid to broker a truce between the two
front-runners by convincing them to remain in their
respective positions as ANC President and ANC Deputy
President for another five years. Winnie said publicly she
is trying to save the party, which is becoming increasingly
characterized by behavior that disregards what the ANC stands
for: "Sisters are attacking sisters and comrades are at each
others' throats."
2. (C) Winnie's spokesperson confirmed on 10 December that
both Mbeki and Zuma have agreed to meet with her sometime
before the conference, albeit separately. Few, however, have
confidence that her efforts will bear fruit. UNISA Professor
Dirk Kotze told POLOFF on 11 December that he had heard
Winnie was approached by a handful of senior ANC members who
still believe her seniority could influence Mbeki and Zuma.
However, Kotze cautions that, "not only is Winnie's proposal
unrealistic, it isn't even a compromise." Kotze believes
Winnie only accepted the challenge with the hope that it
would boost her profile and influence within the ANC.
3. (C) COMMENT: Winnie's gamble has paid off. No one,
probably not even Winnie, believes that this latest attempt
to find a compromise has any chance of succeeding. However,
her efforts to "save the party" have received an enormous
amount of positive press coverage. She has been nominated
for the National Executive Committee by both the Zuma and
Mbeki camps and is likely to be rewarded. END COMMENT.
BOST