Defiant Zuma likely to face ANC no-confidence vote
President Jacob Zuma’s political future rests in the hands of Parliament after he reportedly turned down a request from the ANC leadership to step down voluntarily.
On Monday, the ANC’s national working committee met late into the night to discuss Zuma’s refusal and map a way forward.
The ANC confirmed shortly after the meeting that its working committee had decided to convene a special national executive committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday,
That meeting is set to discuss Zuma’s fate on the eve of Thursday’s state of the nation address. The NEC discussions would include the “management of the transition between the fifth and sixth administration of government and pending actions in Parliament’, the ANC said in a statement.
Business Day understands the party’s parliamentary caucus is now set to get the ball rolling on Zuma’s removal, through a constitutional process — a motion of no confidence brought by the ANC itself. This was supported by some senior ANC leaders going into the meeting after Zuma left the party with little option.
Zuma said on Sunday he would not resign, as he had done nothing wrong to warrant his resignation. There was no official word from Luthuli House on the outcome of Monday’s meeting between Zuma and party officials.
A motion of no confidence brought by the EFF was scheduled for February 22, but ANC insiders said the party’s caucus would not support an opposition-led process and would rather file their own motion.
On Monday, Zuma-backing formation, Black First Land First (BLF), marched to Luthuli House to hand over a memorandum urging the ANC not to recall him from the Union Buildings.
A faction of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) was set
to hold a media briefing on Tuesday where it would air “serious allegations” against newly elected ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.
However, MKMVA chairman Kebby Maphatsoe on Monday distanced the organisation from the media briefing, saying it was being convened by a disgruntled faction, which included an MKMVA NEC member who was unwilling to accept the outcome of the party’s December conference.
ANC members who want Zuma to go clashed with the Gupta-aligned BLF outside Luthuli House. ANC secretarygeneral Ace Magashule came under fire from his own party supporters after he collected a memorandum from the BLF. ANC members booed and called him a “sell-out”.
Magashule accepted the memorandum after the BLF indicated it would hand it over only to him or deputy secretarygeneral Jessie Duarte, both seen as Zuma allies.
Magashule was praised by the BLF. He, in turn, said he was happy that the BLF was “so disciplined”.
Shortly after Magashule was booed, ANC members sang in praise of Ramaphosa, saying he must rise and lead.
Police officers formed a line between the angry protesters and Magashule and his security detail.
Earlier on Monday, a small truck transporting pro-Zuma protesters — who seemed to be BLF supporters — had to stop as ANC protesters, who had gathered to “protect Luthuli House” from BLF, started chasing them away. Violence ensued, resulting in arrests.
Meanwhile, Zuma on Monday met Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini in Ulundi.
The content of the discussion was not made public.