I am going to do a thread on Zuma and the ANC Intelligence. It’s time folks stop spreading myth.

1. #Zuma was never Head of ANC Intelligence in exile and in the 1990s. This is a myth.

2. Joe Nhlanhla was the Head of Intelligence in exile and in the 1990s. Thereafter, Lekota was elected as Head of Intelligence.

3. Lekota found that to be a difficult task. Some intelligence operatives refused to report to Lekota. They preferred to report to Zuma and others to Joe Nhlanhla.

4. Why Zuma? Because he ran parallel Intelligence structure, loyal to him. On several occasions, the ANC disbanded Zuma’s parallel structures. They surfaced again.

5. Zuma was involved in Intelligence, especially the notorious imbokodo. But he was never the Head of Intelligence.

6. Throughout that period, he relied on personal loyalties and was factionalist.

7. It is also untrue that Zuma was involved in Operation Vula. He knows he wasn’t. But the myth serves his purpose.

8. Zuma was not mandated to negotiate peace in KZN. A team was supposed to do that. Of course, he did what he does best. He got some warlords from both sides & won them over. The peace talks continued. But, he also had these people who were loyal to him and him alone.

9. Much has been made about ‘files’ Zuma has. Respectable journalists have reproduced these stories, without ever asking Zuma directly. Yes, he has threatened to expose some people. Surely, that can’t be concern of country. If he knows things about people, that’s not SA problem.

10. People who know Zuma will confirm what I’ve tweeted. Start with Kasrils’ book. Speak to people who were in Vula. Most importantly, look at the archives.

11. It is important for journalists to actually research stories properly. You have enormous power. Use it responsibly. We depend on your work.

A myth that circulated before Polokwane, ‘Zuma was heir apparent. He deserved that position because he was ANC DP.’ The ANC’s history contradicts this ‘truism’. Note. Zuma himself said this was not true. That is why he backed Dlamini-Zuma. He bends it to suit his interest.

An important question to ponder. Knowing Zuma’s history and predilection to fiefdom, why did the ANC allow him to rise to the level of DP? One answer is ‘it was considered strategic, in the context of ANC/IFP conflict’. Simplistic.

I can’t emphasize this enough. Please, stop telling people Zuma was in Operation Vula. Talk to people who were in OV. They are still alive. It’s called research.