ANC risks split if it charges rebels
Fallout from divisive vote could affect disciplinary and appeals committees
Charging ANC MPs who voted against President Jacob Zuma in the motion of no confidence last week will create chaos and further divisions in the ANC, party insiders said.
It will also see both the national disciplinary and appeals committees being disbanded because two of those facing charges are members, they argued.
Derek Hanekom chairs the ANC’s national disciplinary committee, Pravin Gordhan sits on the national disciplinary committee of appeals while Mondli Gungubele is the ANC Gauteng disciplinary committee chairman.
Hanekom, Gordhan, Gungubele and Makhosi Khoza, who is the chairwoman of the public service and administration portfolio committee, came out publicly saying they voted against Zuma.
Yesterday, the four MPs had not received their charges.
If they are charged, the anti-Zuma camp could also push for Zuma to be charged for insulting ANC veterans and labelling them as weak individuals who thought they were strong, and ANC Youth League president Collen Maine to be charged for calling on Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) to take up arms in defence of Zuma last year.
Sowetan has established that Zuma supporters, who have been emboldened by his remarks that ANC MPs who voted in favour of a motion of no confidence should be punished, plan to use the national executive committee (NEC) meeting next month to push for the disciplinary action against the four MPs.
It is understood the MKMVA is expected to use its NEC meeting this weekend to make a recommendation to the ANC to take disciplinary action.
Human Settlements Minister and NEC member Lindiwe Sisulu told Sowetan yesterday it would be unfair if the four MPs are charged.
She suggested the ANC should call a general council to find out why its MPs voted with the opposition. “Let people express themselves. When you have a quarrel at home you don’t take it out there.”
ANC Women’s League secretary-general Meokgo Matuba said the conduct of Hanekom, Gordhan, Gungubele and Khoza amounted to ill-discipline. “It must not go unpunished. We believe in the internal process of the ANC. When the ANC makes a decision we must abide by that decision.”
ANC Eastern Cape secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the push for the four MPs to be charged was not factional. “There is nothing factional about the matter. It is not about Zuma supporters. It is a matter of principle.”
An ANC leader from Limpopo Boy Mamabolo – a known Ramaphosa supporter – said Ramaphosa supporters were determined to call for Zuma to be charged for insulting the ANC veterans should disciplinary action be taken against the four MPs.
SACP North West secretary Madoda Sambatha had a different take. He blamed the NEC for factional battles in the ANC.
“This process of people voting in favour of a motion of no confidence in the president did not originate in parliament.
“You have a situation where the NEC, for the first time in its history, discussed on two occasions a motion of no confidence in its president. MPs take a cue from the NEC. That is why you have MPs freely speaking about a motion of no confidence in the president.”
MKMVA president Kebby Maphatsoe – an ally of Zuma – said the association wanted the four MPs to be charged. “The ANC should not be compromised because there is a belief that there will be divisions.”