ANC MPs break ranks at caucus
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma came under heavy criticism from MPs at the ANC caucus lekgotla with some describing him as “scandalous” and declaring he should take personal responsibility for the party’s dwindling electoral support.
Zuma’s leadership of the ANC and the looming succession debate featured prominently during the three-day meeting last weekend.
Senior MPs, such as energy committee chairman Fikile Majola, said it was time for Zuma to go as he had caused the ANC enough damage. They called for the caucus to take a stand.
Several MPs at the meeting, during which Zuma was referred to as “the elephant in the room”, said Majola was supported by other MPs including former Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele and long-serving legislator Lerumo Kalako.
The MPs complained that the ANC’s senior leadership had allowed mismanagement and poor governance to set in at parastatals such as the SABC, SAA and Eskom.
But Majola and his grouping met opposition from other MPs seen as sympathetic to Zuma, such as Pule Mabe and Richard Mdakane.
Approached for comment, Majola, whose committee is known for its hard-line attitude towards Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, declined to comment. “I wouldn’t want to talk on caucus matters.”
Gungubele and Mdakane also declined to comment, saying the caucus discussion was not meant for public consumption.
Mabe did not respond to requests for comment.
ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu would not be drawn into discussing the matter.
“We’ve had our robust political discussions as caucus and we’re not going to be quoting everybody verbatim. If you want further details, go to the statement we released this week,” he said.
According to participants, Mabe told the lekgotla that caucus gatherings were not the platform to discuss or decide on the national leadership, while Mdakane argued the caucus was not above the national executive committee.
The NEC had previously taken collective responsibility for the party’s losses in the local government elections. But several MPs who spoke at the lekgotla said some members of the NEC needed to take personal responsibility and many interpreted this as a direct attack on Zuma.
“People were saying that we’re held prisoner by our fear to speak, hence people keep on speaking about the elephant in the room without naming it. But we all know who they’re talking about,” said one MP who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another MP who also asked to remain anonymous, said the NEC had turned a blind eye to the damage Zuma had inflicted on the party.
“Even now the president is too scandalous. The presidency is full of scandals. The leadership in the NEC just closes their eyes. They are not even giving direction. This made us lose votes on August 3. Those are issues that probably everyone was concerned about.”
❛ The charges are a smokescreen with the intention of removing him ❛ Those who matter [politically], should have intervened to stop this rubbish ❛ As ANC leaders and NEC members we can't keep quiet because if we do so, we'll be seen as agreeing to this nonsense — Jackson Mthembu