Points to answer after HQ showdown
THE protest outside Luthuli House yesterday may have been marred by violent clashes between rival groups, but the organisers have raised key points the ruling party has to think about.
In the memorandum accepted by ANC secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, the ruling party has not only been asked to axe President Zuma, but to attend to other critical issues to revive the former liberation movement.
The organisers of #OccupyLuthuliHouse campaign have asked the ANC to urgently convene a consultative conference.
This issue has already been raised by some structures in the ANC, and this includes the ANC Youth League.
One of the leaders of yesterday’s protest was the former deputy president of the ANCYL, Ronald Lamola.
Lamola first launched the protest for Zuma’s removal at the National Executive Committee meeting in May.
The ANC Women’s League has dismissed the idea of an early conference for the ANC.
The #OccupyLuthuliHouse campaign said the consultative conference must elect a committee of ANC elders to oversee the preparation for the elective conference.
This is where new ANC leaders will take over the party.
The group is also demanding that the ANC must take a firm stand against corruption.
The group wants Zuma to resign as it is believes he has cost the party.
Zuma has been blamed for the poor showing in the municipal polls, after the ANC’s national support dropped from 62% to 54%.
The #OccupyLuthuliHouse campaign is also demanding that the ANC Constitution be amended to ensure greater accountability by its National Executive Committee.
The NEC has been accused of being too pliant to Zuma, and failing to act against him.
The amended party constitution must ensure that the next ANC president is elected by only members in good standing.
Another proposed constitutional amendment is that the party must get rid of dirty money to buy votes.
The use of cash in ANC conferences has been discussed in the past.
The group is also demanding that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan must announce free education for university students in 2017.
The Fees Commission, chaired by Judge Jonathan Heher, is currently conducting public hearings on the cost and possibility of free education.
Zuma set up the commission last year and it is expected to table a report to Zuma after concluding its work.
Despite the group presenting the list of demands to the ANC, the party may not be too eager to address them, after Mantashe described them as “attention seekers”.