- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: President Zuma prepares for battle at ANC meeting
- Date: 21st September 2010
- Summary: GROUP OF DELEGATES IN YELLOW SHIRTS SINGING WITH ARMS IN AIR MORE OF DELEGATES IN YELLOW SHIRTS SINGING DELEGATES DANCING AND SINGING, ONE BLOWING WHISTLE ANC BANNER READING 'WELCOME' WITH DELEGATES SINGING AND BLOWING WHISTLES DELEGATES OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTRE BEHIND POSTERS READING 'ANC-KZN WELCOMES DELEGATES'
- Embargoed: 6th October 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAA2X5L52GEWM1RPB5JFKGZRRWX
- Story Text: South African President Jacob Zuma faced a major battle to shore up his authority on Monday (September 20).
The annual meeting of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) opened in Durban to determine policy direction.
On the agenda will be debates on currency intervention to control the strong rand and left-wing demands for mine nationalisation -- both controversial policies within South Africa's ruling coalition.
The ANC's national general council could leave Zuma weakened if he fails to hold on to old allies, who want left-leaning economic policies, or to win over some new ones. With his term due to run until 2014, he is already widely seen as an ineffective leader.
Former backers have indicated they may not support him for a second term, while economic growth looks set to slow in Africa's biggest economy, and a dispute that led to 1.3 million state workers going on strike has yet to be resolved.
One of Zuma's main tasks is to repair an alliance with the powerful labour federation COSATU. Relations with the ANC's coalition partner were strained by a three-week state workers' strike that was suspended earlier this month, and union accusations of cronyism and corruption in his government.
Zuma will also need to fend off various rivals in the splintered ANC who are lining up to challenge Zuma at the next ANC leadership election in 2012. Due to the ANC's electoral dominance, that person is likely to be South Africa's next president. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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