Calls for JZ to be ANC KZN chair

MEETING: ONLY A ‘SMALL MINORITY’ SUGGESTED THIS

NEC members held meeting with branch leaders to cover the circumstances of Jacob Zuma’s recall as SA president.

The convenor of the ANC’s provincial task team in KwaZulu-Natal, Mike Mabuyakhulu, says the members calling to nominate Jacob Zuma as the party’s provincial chairperson at a meeting on Sunday were in the minority.

“It was not a popular view. It was said by one or two people,” Mabuyakhulu said yesterday.

Branch leaders attended a meeting at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday at which national executive committee (NEC) members Zweli Mkhize and Barbara Creecy covered Zuma’s recall and subsequent resignation.

“Members of branches said they should have been consulted [before Zuma’s recall],” said Mabuyakhulu.

But when Mkhize and Creecy explained that it was an NEC decision, they accepted it.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has to hold fresh elections by April after the NEC suspended the provincial leadership in January.

This followed a high court ruling that the 2015 provincial conference at which the leadership was elected was invalid.

“Comrade Msholozi [Zuma’s clan name] has been a national leader.

“He has played a national role and he can’t be reduced, in our view, to being provincial leader,” Mabuyakhulu added.

A few members at Sunday’s tense meeting wanted the party to hold an early national general council, at which policy recommendations are made.

“It was the opinion of a few members, but it was not the general trend.”

The convenor also said the party would not object to the province using Zuma to campaign for the ANC in the run-up to the 2019 national elections.

“Our view, as the provincial leadership, is that there is a national leadership led by President [Cyril] Ramaphosa.

“That leadership will lead the ANC’s campaign towards the general election,” he said.

“All ANC leaders, stalwarts and former leaders will be expected to participate in the campaign, but it will be clearly led by the current president.

“So if Zuma participates, that won’t be a problem.

“But as a province we can’t do our own thing outside of the national [leadership],” said Mabuyakhulu. – ANA