Zuma says his deputy could step in

Ruling party leader Jacob Zuma, whose supporters led the successful charge to oust President Thabo Mbeki, hinted Monday that his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, would take over as South Africa’s interim president.

Zuma promised a smooth transition of power but dismissed questions about unresolved corruption allegations against him. He is widely expected to win election as president next year.

Motlanthe, who was a political prisoner on Robben Island during apartheid, is a former trade unionist who has risen swiftly in the African National Congress party to become No. 2 to Zuma.

Mbeki’s term formally ends Thursday, following his resignation after the ANC’s national executive committee ordered him to step down over the weekend.

Zuma said the interim national leader would be announced in parliament, but he added that Motlanthe would “be equal to the task . . . if given that responsibility.”

Zuma said there would be no departure from existing economic policies, which would remain “stable, progressive and unchanged.”

Mbeki was sacked just months before his term was to expire. Zuma’s supporters charge that the government’s legal case against the party leader was politically motivated, while his opponents say Mbeki’s dismissal was mainly designed to solve Zuma’s legal problems.

Zuma has been tainted by serious corruption and racketeering charges, which were thrown out by a judge Sept. 12 on a technicality without being tested in court.

Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, highly critical of the ANC’s snap dismissal of Mbeki, said presidents should be elected by the population, not by the ANC-dominated parliament.

He called for the corruption allegations against Zuma to be decided by a court.

“I am deeply disturbed that the nation, the state, South Africa, has been subordinated to a political party,” he said. “It is good old-fashioned tit for tat. Our country deserves better. The way of retribution leads to a banana republic.”

Tutu said the country had to be sure its leaders were not corrupt.

“We can’t go on wondering is he or isn’t he. It is a court of law that will ultimately decide whether he in fact is or isn’t,” he said, referring to Zuma.

But an appeal by the prosecution to reinstate the charges against Zuma is unlikely to be heard before he becomes president, meaning he may never face the charges.

Zuma told journalists Monday that unproven allegations did not stop him from “any kind of activity, occupation or responsibility.”

Steven Friedman, an analyst with the University of Johannesburg’s Center for the Study of Democracy, said dismissing Mbeki in order to resolve Zuma’s legal problems sent the message that some people were more equal before the law than others.

“I think it sends an unfortunate signal, particularly to poor people. This country has many people sitting in prisons because they’re poor and can’t afford the bail. Are we suggesting that their legal problems should be resolved in the same way Zuma’s were?” he said.

Mbeki’s ouster came after a judge concluded that the president may have interfered in the case against Zuma to block his path to the presidency.

The removal has raised questions about the leadership of Zuma, who said more than once that Mbeki wouldn’t be forced from office before his term expired. Late last week he reportedly told ANC colleagues that there was no need to get rid of Mbeki, calling him a “dead snake.”

Days later, Mbeki was deposed, prompting questions about how much influence Zuma has over his supporters.

“Has it now moved to a situation where people who were elected to lead don’t lead? If they don’t lead, who does?” Friedman said. “Is it the person who shouts the loudest, the person who’s most ambitious, or is there some sort of procedure to ensure that people voted into high office are the people actually making the decisions?”

The charge against Mbeki was led by Zuma’s supporters in the Communist Party, unions and the militant ANC Youth League.

“It was so ruthless and vindictive,” analyst William Gumede said.

“I think it will backfire. People will start saying, ‘Hang on, if that’s how you treat the president, how are you going to treat everyone else?’ ”

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robyn.dixon@latimes.com