Call for leadership against corruption

A group of ANC rebels referring to themselves as the ANC stalwarts and veterans have refused to divulge their plan of action should President Jacob Zuma not step down as ANC president and head of state.

Zuma’s second term as ANC leader ends next month, while his term as South African president ends in 2019.

Yesterday, ANC stalwart Wally Serote would only say: “I don’t want to speculate what our plan of action would be.

“Our position is that the ANC NEC (national executive committee) should recall Zuma both as ANC president and state president.”

The next NEC meeting is scheduled to sit at the end of the month – some of the veterans are members of the NEC.

Serote said the group would deliver its message to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

Following their national consultative conference held at the weekend, they renewed calls for Zuma to step down with immediate effect.

They said Zuma “has let the ANC, people and the country down”. The group previously made calls for Zuma to resign.

The group also resolved that a new ANC leadership committed to stamping out corruption and state capture be elected at the ANC national elective conference next month.

The ANC stalwarts and veterans conference at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg was attended by ANC heavyweights, including former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, ANC NEC member Lindiwe Sisulu and SACP leaders Blade Nzimande and Solly Mapaila.