We told him to go last year – elders
ANC integrity commission and Cosatu join voices
The ANC integrity commission has embarrassed President Jacob Zuma in front of other ANC leaders, asking him if he informed them it told him to step down last year.
The members of the commission, who include ANC elders Frene Ginwala and Andrew Mlangeni, met party officials on Monday because they were aware Zuma never told them about the resolution.
They again called on him to step down in the same meeting.
Veteran Cheryl Carolus also revealed yesterday that the ANC’s integrity commission had in December made a finding against Zuma.
“There was an integrity commission finding which was communicated to the president last year, saying that he had been found wanting and in violation of the constitution and values and principles of the ANC, and the integrity commission actually asked him to step down,” she told journalists in Johannesburg.
Towards the end of last year, the commission met Zuma to discuss the Constitutional Court ruling against him on the Nkandla matter. And, on Monday, they met him and the officials over Zuma’s recent cabinet reshuffle last week.
Yesterday, Cosatu joined several organisations on their call for Zuma to step down. Cosatu said it no longer believed in Zuma’s leadership abilities and it would communicate its decision to its a lly, the ANC.
Cosatu’s decision is based on the alleged undue influence apparently exerted by the Guptas in the office of Zuma and a series of controversies such as the ConCourt judgment and his apology on Nkandla saga. Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali yesterday said, following its Monday meeting: “We think that after all this undeniable contribution to both the movement and government, it is time for him to step down and allow the country to be led by a new collective at a government level.”
However, the federation said it did not discuss whether it would take to the streets if Zuma refuses to resign.
“Zuma has also failed to deal with some of the most incompetent ministers in his cabinet, proving that this cabinet reshuffle was not based on merit but on political loyalty.”
Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini, previously seen as a Zuma ally, said the federation was not taking kindly to not been consulted on the “big” cabinet reshuffle.
“We are sending a very clear message to the country and the leadership out there… that we cannot contain this anymore.”
Zuma has failed to deal with inept ministers