Anti-apartheid hero’s daughter ‘concerned about death threats’

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Anti-apartheid hero’s daughter ‘concerned about death threats’

8:47 CAT | 25 Apr 2017

File photo / Lindiwe Sisulu is a potential candidate for the governing party's leadership

The daughter of South Africa anti-apartheid hero, Walter Sisulu, has said she is worried about reports of death threats against her as the leadership contest for the ANC draws closer.

Lindiwe Sisulu is among a number of high profile figures who are being encouraged to stand for the leadership of the governing African National Congress (ANC) when it holds its elective conference in December.

Despite protests and a vote of no confidence due to be held in parliament next month, President Jacob Zuma has made it clear that he intends to remain until the conference.

Ms Sisulu, who serves in his cabinet as housin minister, has been an outspoken critic of the “populism” of the current ANC leadership.

She occupied top ministerial posts in the past, but analysts believe she has limited appeal to the masses.

Unofficial campaigning has already begun with some of the top names in the ANC being touted as a possible successor to Mr Zuma.

Cyril Ramaphosa – a wealthy businessman and Mr Zuma’s deputy – has made his provisional bid for the top job by lambasting the president’s link with the wealthy Gupta family, describing it as the “elephant in the room” which needed to be properly investigated.

The Guptas are widely seen by critics to be wielding undue influence over matters of state. The family denies the allegation.

Alongside Mr Ramaphosa, Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma, the former head of the African Union commission and President Zuma’s ex-wife appears to have the backing of the youth and women’s wing of the ANC.

Some analysts claim that with Ms Dlamini-Zuma leading the governing party, Mr Zuma would be able to call the shots from the shadows and she would be in a position to shield him from any future corruption prosecutions.

A High Court ruled last year that the president should face corruption charges over a 1999 arms deal.

Mr Zuma, who denies any wrongdoing, is appealing against the ruling.

Las year, Mr Zuma also survived an impeachment vote after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had failed to uphold his oath office by failing to repay government money used to upgrade his private residence.

He has been under renewed pressure after he sacked the respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in March, resulting in South Africa being downgraded by rating agencies to “junk status”.

Source: BBC