ANC could be ‘torn apart’
Mantashe warns party is in peril – but union insists that Zuma must go
THE strongest indication yet has been given that the ANC is facing a crisis, after its secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said recalling Jacob Zuma as president of the party would tear it apart. Mantashe was addressing the central committee of the National Union of Mineworkers in Pretoria.
“The ANC is under siege, with all forces including those allies believing that there is only one solution to our challenge – and that is of President Zuma stepping down. This subject has been discussed in the ANC many times. Our feedback is that if we do that now, we will tear the ANC apart,” Mantashe said. “That is what we came to resolve.
“We analysed on many occasions and we came to a conclusion that if we dare do that, we will tear the movement apart.
“We will have instant satisfaction and happiness, but it will take us much longer to pick up the pieces of the movement.
“It will plunge the ANC into deeper chaos, with structures of the movement divided in many regions,” Mantashe said.
“You know that if we do that, we split KZN into two, immediately.”
NUM president Piet Matosa said South Africa needed “sober leaders” when calling for Zuma to step down and to be replaced by his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa.
“The NEC of NUM decided that Cyril Ramaphosa should be the next president of the ANC. Therefore we call upon this central committee to endorse this decision and affirm in this regard,” Matosa said. A new leader should rescue the ANC “from the current challenges”.
“We are therefore saying President Zuma has to step down. He has failed to lead and unite our country, South Africa, and the ANC.”
Matosa condemned the “brazen unusual tendencies and the corporate capture of the South African democratic state”.
But Mantashe said the ANC’s top leadership had resolved not to be “adventurous” on the highly emotive matter of recalling Zuma. “If we do that, everybody will clap for us, everybody would be happy for us but the movement will be torn apart immediately. The formation of Cope, with the recall of president Thabo Mbeki will be like a Sunday picnic. The option we opted for is to invest everything in time to build unity of the movement and work for a successful conference in December,” said Mantashe.
“We think that such a formula will work much better for us than rushing now, because everybody is chanting Zuma must go. Electing a leadership in December will send a message that it is not about ‘a luta continua for looting will continue’.”
He said the ANC was not avoiding the subject.
At a separate press conference in Joburg, EFF leader Julius Malema bared all in a no holds barred briefing.
Malema said he was not in any way linked to or involved with the Gupta email leaks.
“South Africans can no longer wait. These emails are proof that those who run the government today have betrayed their country,” he said. He also called for Zuma to be arrested. “We must arrest Zuma to teach those after him that they must not do such,” he said. – Staff Reporter