Key JZ allies deserting him

There was further evidence that some of President Jacob Zuma’s key supporters are deserting him in his darkest political hour as members of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) yesterday accused its president Kebby Maphatsoe, pictured, of ‘’somersaulting’’ when he reneged on an agreement to hand in a letter denouncing new ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.

The letter was a vicious attack on Ramaphosa, based on a book written by former convict and now political activist Gayton McKenzie, which claims there were attempts to poison Zuma.

Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) was the armed wing of the ANC during the anti-apartheid struggle.

In the media alert issued on Monday, Maphatsoe distanced himself from the veterans’ briefing yesterday.

He said the gathering was not an official MKMVA event and that the organisation “would not accept responsibility for the veracity and content of the media briefing”.

But yesterday, MKMVA executive committee member Nandi Rweqana claimed Maphatsoe had “changed his tune”.

“Kebby was involved in crafting this letter from beginning to end ... He edited the letter. We agreed to hand in the letter before January 10, ahead of the ANC national executive committee’s first meeting ... We started differing with Kebby when he started somersaulting at the 11th hour when the letter was supposed to be handed in,’’ Rweqana told reporters in Johannesburg.

Another executive committee member, Sibusiso Radebe, said Maphatsoe, who is also deputy minister of defence and military veterans, was probably afraid of losing his Cabinet post after his preferred candidate, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, lost to Ramaphosa in the hotly contested ANC leadership race in December.

“We all know that Kebby is on record that he did not support Ramaphosa before the elective conference. He said it himself before the conference that Ramaphosa does not qualify to lead the ANC ... It might be correct to suggest he is doing this so he can keep his post. What is interesting is that he somersaulted after the results were announced at conference.”

Maphatsoe is a staunch supporter of Zuma. He was elected MKMVA president last year, with Zuma as keynote speaker.