ANC in KZN backs Zuma amid calls for resignation

DURBAN — The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it does not see any reason for the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to call on President Jacob Zuma to step down.

“We are not aware of any justified reasons for the president to not conclude his term of office,” ANC provincial spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli said yesterday.

Ntuli was speaking outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court where Dawie Kriel, who stands accused of making a racist Facebook post, appeared.

Ntuli said the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the party had heard of the NEC development in the news.

“We heard that some people reported to the media that some [in the NEC] advanced a vote of no confidence for the president of the ANC.”

Ntuli said that had not been confirmed by “any leadership of our movement”.

“We regard it to be a rumour. Because it is a rumour, we are not prepared to glorify it and respond to it.”

He added: “What we know for a matter of fact is that we elected a national executive committee and President Zuma is the leader and we expect them to lead us up to the next conference.”

News24 earlier reported that at least three members of Zuma’s Cabinet had led an impassioned call for him to step down or that the NEC vote to remove him.

Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi asked him to resign. They were strongly supported by ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu. — AP