Zuma guns for Hanekom
President says ANC must act against those who voted with opposition in bid to oust him
A wounded President Jacob Zuma went back to his bastion in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday to break his silence over the storm that followed a vote of no confidence motion against him last week.
Speaking at the ANC Youth League-organised “Cadres Forum” in uPhongolo, northern KwaZulu-Natal, where he was welcomed with rapturous applause, a clearly disturbed Zuma was unwavering in his stance, saying the ANC constitution should be applied against those that voted with the opposition in the National Assembly last week.
He said it was shocking that even the chairman of the ANC disciplinary committee was implicated, an inference to Derek Hanekom, who chairs the party’s disciplinary committee and who is among those suspected to have voted with the opposition parties to oust Zuma.
“The issue of what happened in parliament is something I will discuss with the officials, that’s my business. We talk about everything as officials.
“I’m sure even officials will be asking what are members saying, but that’s not my business. My business is that, as president, I will express my dissatisfaction about the conduct of some members.”
“Do not be misled by some people,” Zuma warned.
He read excerpts of the clauses of Rule 25 of the ANC constitution, which in parts prohibits members from collaborating with “counter-revolutionary forces”. He said those who allied with parties against the ANC should face the disciplinary committee.
“If you commit any of these acts it means the ANC has to take you to the disciplinary committee because it means you have broken the law.
“However, more shocking is that the chair of the very same committee... that’s another matter we should discuss because he is also implicated in this.
“We do not know some of these people and their seniority though,” he said.
Zuma said personal interests should not be the overriding factor and usurp ANC interests. “We should not have comrades who take the ANC for granted and who do not care about it. You hear a person saying, ‘I’m following my conscience.’ Please do not have your conscience, have an ANC conscience.
“The unity of the ANC is key and paramount to solving problems. Let’s not do otherwise. Many people died for this freedom and we are just toying with it.”
Zuma also used the platform to call for KwaZulu-Natal to be united ahead of the party’s upcoming national conference.
He said a divided KwaZuluNatal would weaken the ANC
“I also urge alliance partners to stop squabbling. I’m glad that in KwaZulu-Natal you are not like that. I urge you to stick together and not be divided. Speak with one voice and any decision you make should be respected and followed.”
Zuma said those who say he and his son Duduzane are corrupt must state what he has done to warrant such a tag.
“Can’t I have friends?” he asked in reference to the controversial Gupta family.
“I’m told there are also e-mails but I’m also waiting to see if any talk about me. I haven’t seen a Zuma e-mail.”