ANC NEC FACES REVOLT OVER ACE, ZUMA

Major party rifts loom over embattled pair

A MAJOR revolt is looming against the ANC leadership if the party’s suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule is not reinstated immediately.

This was the view of some ANC branches in the eThekwini region after Magashule and former state security minister and ANC MP Bongani Bongo were barred from being part of the ANC National Executive Committee meeting which began on Saturday.

The branches also defended former president Jacob Zuma against any impending arrest following the Zondo Commission’s application to the Constitutional Court to jail him for allegedly undermining an order of the highest court of the land.

The branches yesterday launched a twin campaign in favour of Magashule and Zuma.

In their statement read by Ntando Khuzwayo, chairperson of the Gedleyihlekisa sub-region, they are calling for the disbandment of the ANC national executive committee.

“We, the majority of branches, members of the ANC in eThekwini Region, are concerned about the latest developments in our country and the manner in which our affairs as the Congress movement are being handled by the National Executive Committee.

“The NEC has no powers to amend any conference resolution without proper consultation of the members of the ANC, branches and structures.

“The 54th conference resolved as follows: Strengthen our understanding of our values, ethics and morality and the demands that the people, the Constitution and the rule of law places on us as the guardians of the state and its resources.

“Demand that every cadre accused of or reported to be involved in corrupt practices accounts to the Integrity Committee immediately or face DC processes.

“Summarily suspend people who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down, while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures,” Khuzwayo said.

The branches said they publicly disassociate themselves from anyone, whether business donor, supporter or member accused of corruption or reported to be involved in corruption.

“All ANC members and structures should co-operate with the law-enforcement agencies to criminally prosecute anyone guilty of corruption.

“The ANC should respect the Constitution of the country and the rule of law and ensure that we get the best possible legal advice in government to ensure our compliance wherever possible, rather than waiting to defend those who stray,” Khuzwayo said.

In the statement they accused the NEC of allegedly targeting those who were only charged by the state machinery, saying “that (it) is clearly controlled by certain authorities is worrying”.

“The NEC cannot willy nilly suspend or amend conference resolutions to suit its internal fights. The resolution says you must only summarily suspend those who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down; for that to happen there must be an organisational process.

“In these instances, the ANC only made a media statement and never held a process which includes consulting structures,” Khuzwayo said.

They were adamant in their demand for the reinstatement of Magashule, accusing the top leadership of having taken that decision without consulting branches and structures. Khuzwayo said they wrote numerous letters to the ANC top leadership but all of them were ignored; this had prompted their latest action.

The 68 branches also vowed to act against plans to arrest Zuma pending the outcome of the ConCourt judgment. “We have learnt of the plan to arrest the former head of state and former commander of the underground army, President Jacob Zuma. Such arrest by a democratic state for his refusal to appear before a conflicted judge will be faced with resistance. We have begun to mobilise all sectors of society and should the need arise we will engage other African friends to assist us in dealing with this second wave of apartheid approach in a democratic state. We believe there is no sober judge that will lead this nation to a direction that will cause anarchy. For the sake of peace, we say Hands Off President Jacob Zuma,” Khuzwayo said.

KwaZulu-Natal ANC spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations by the branches while ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe was involved in a virtual NEC meeting at the time of going to publication.