070214indep

070214indep 07 02 14 14 Feb 2007 Independent Newspapers Nelson Mandela plays cupid between ANC factions In-fighting was not new to the ANC but never before had it been torn apart quite as savagely as in 2007. Earlier in the year some senior party members had asked Mandela to intervene, but he was unable to lessen the bitterness between the camps. Mbeki faction, Zuma Faction Cupid ANC factions Zuma vs Mbeki Nelson Mandela indep 20070214indep Feb Independent Newspapers /Cartoons/m_070214indep.jpg 070214indep.jpg In-fighting was not new to the party, but never before had it been torn apart quite as savagely as now. Earlier in the year some senior party members had asked Mandela to intervene, but he was unable to lessen the bitterness between the camps. That the ANC was due for a shake-up was clear. For years the party had stood back as the aloof emperor Mbeki centralised power. Now at last there was a backlash. It came, not surprisingly, from sectors which Mbeki had marginalised – the ANC’s left wing and the party’s Tripartiate Alliance partners. But there was a disturbing contradiction in their backing of Zuma. The SACP and Cosatu had taken highly principled positions on gender rights, gay rights, HIV/AIDS, the economy and on corruption. They now seemed blindly united behind a candidate with no progressive Cartoons YEAR-2007 Independent Newspapers Zuma, Jacob Zuma, Jacob Mbeki, Thabo 618