No ambiguity on death penalty, says Zuma

ANC President, Jacob Zuma

ANC President Jacob Zuma says there is no ambiguity in the ANC's position on the death penalty. The ruling party remains opposed to capital punishment.

Zuma today moved to clarify controversial issues which he raised during his public engagements last week.

Zuma met various interests groups including business leaders, the Jewish Board of Deputies and trade union Solidarity. Zuma addressed several policy issues which seemed to clash with his party's stance and the key issue among these was the death penalty.

"If people are saying we need to re-look at this matter and they say we want a referendum, I don't think we can say, ‘you can't get a referendum’. I think it would be undemocratic,” says Zuma.

Political analysts say while Zuma tried to allay fears of conservative interests groups, he attracted the wrath of party insiders.

"This is clearly upsetting people in the ANC, who are insisting that he sticks to ANC policy," says political analyst Steven Friedman. Friedman says this could be a sign of bigger problems within the new ANC leadership that elected Zuma.

Meanwhile, the ANC President's Constitutional Court challenge to declare the National Prosecuting Authority's warrants invalid starts tomorrow.