Zuma Trial Latest: Msholozi vows not to reveal ‘bad things’ about comrades

Former president Jacob Zuma reprimanded his supporters for booing KZN ANC chairperson Sihle Zikalala and provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli, outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court, also vowing that he would not reveal the “bad” secrets he has on other senior ANC members. 

Zuma appeared in court for his corruption trial to face 16 criminal charges linked to 783 payments he allegedly received in connection with the controversial arms deal, on Monday. The senior members of the ANC in the province told the media that they had decided to show the party’s support of the former president.  Suspended Freestate premier Ace Magashule also attended the start of Zuma’s trial along with a large contingent of his supporters, some who told journalists that they believed he was being persecuted. 

Jacaranda FM reported that Zuma had appealed to ANC leaders and members not to allow their differences to be the downfall of the governing party.

 “His appeal came after some of the supporters booed the provincial ANC chairperson Sihle Zikalala and provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli off the stage. Dressed in party regalia, the supporters could be heard accusing the pair of being disloyal. Zuma tried to diffuse the tensions,” Jacaranda reported.

“I have many years in the organisation, there are many comrades I have had a difference with either in politics or leadership, but when I am among other comrades, I say nothing ill about them. There are others who I know bad things about, but if I were to say them today, the world would come to an end. But I am keep quiet and say nothing because I do not want to disappoint the ANC,” he added.

Zuma pleaded with ANC members to keep their disagreements out of the public eye.

Jacaranda reported Zuma as saying: “Someone once said to me ‘you have been saying you would release files on other comrades, but you have so far said nothing’ and I told him ‘you don’t know the responsibility I have towards the ANC’.”

 NEC member Tony Yengeni and the MKMVA’s Carl Niehaus also attended the public address to supporters in Pietermaritzburg.

Zuma’s trial was adjourned to 26 May.