Zikalala denies Zuma betrayal, as national rumours swirl

Outgoing KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala has refuted claims that he betrayed former president Jacob Zuma. 

Zikalala’s ousting as provincial chair of the ANC at its recent conference has been linked to his perceived lack of support for Zuma at the time of his jailing. 

Zuma’s arrest for defying a Constitutional Court order led to large-scale violence in the province in 2021. 

“I wish to make it clear that I have supported President Zuma from 14 June 2005 until today,” Zikalala said at a media briefing on Friday.

“I supported him as a leader and someone who sacrificed his life for South Africa to be liberated. My support has never been personal but always organisational. At no point have I ever tried to get position through being associated with him. Equally I have never badmouthed others because they did not support him.”

Zikalala also denied claims that he had aligned himself with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s camp. 

“It is the tradition of the ANC that dictate that members must always accept and work with the elected leadership whether they have supported the elections of that leadership or not.

“The ANC’s principles of organisation democracy and discipline further underline that leaders must lead all members with the same and equal treatment.”

The ANC will interview KZN Finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube and ANC MPLs Mbali Fraser and Amanda Bani for the position of premier.

All three will be going for interviews on Saturday.

Meanwhile, political analyst Imran Buccus believes Zikalala could be moving up.

”He is a man who served his entire youth and adulthood to ANC activism. I would also think, following his engagements with the president and other people at national level there might be space made for him at national level, if not at Luthuli House. 

“I would think, given the political gravitas he holds, and the role he’s played politically, I think some space would be made for him at national level.”

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