Zuma calms diplomats ahead of ANC conference

PRETORIA (AFP) - South Africa's President Jacob Zuma on Friday sought to reassure foreign ambassadors about the country's political stability ahead of the ruling African National Congress elective conference in December.

"We know that the coming conference of the ruling party in December may cause uneasiness on the part of the international community, especially those unaccustomed to robust South African politics," Zuma told foreign representatives in the capital Pretoria.

"We would like to assure you that South Africa as a country and the ANC as the ruling party have the political leadership required to lead South Africa to development and prosperity."

Zuma will seek re-election as party leader in the crucial conference which will pave the way for his second term as the ANC presidential candidate.

Analysts have predicted a bruising race similar to the 2008 elective conference, when Zuma toppled former president Thabo Mbeki as party leader.

The continent's oldest liberation movement also goes to the meeting roiled by divisions, with some calling for Zuma's ouster.

"You may also be confused by some voices at times within the tripartite alliance, as each component expresses its views on any policy issue in line with the culture of democracy within the movement," he said.

"South Africa has done well in 18 years of freedom," Zuma added.

"But as a young democracy, there is still a lot of work to do to create the type of prosperous society we envisage," he said. "We believe we can achieve that type of society."

In June the party held its policy conference to discuss a document termed "second phase of the transition", calling for a radical social and economic transformation.

The party believes that the present policies have not done enough to give the majority black population full participation in the economy.