Zuma celebrates birthday in Soweto
EMBOLDENED by his supporters’ show of force at his 75th birthday bash in Soweto, President Jacob Zuma last night used the event to declare that he will only step down until his term ends in 2019.
He lashed out at the opposition for marching against him, saying they had also gunned for Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki during their terms in office.
Speaking at the birthday celebrations, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte commended Zuma for having told them to “face our enemy with dignity and not share a platform with them”.
Conspicuous by their absence were the rest of the ANC top six. Treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize, secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and chairperson Baleka Mbete did not attend the birthday bash.
Mantashe, Mkhize and Ramaphosa have publicly spoken out against Zuma following a cabinet bloodbath that saw the removal of Pravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas from the Treasury.
Zuma said if he were to be recalled tomorrow, he would step down “with a clean heart”.
“In December, a new president will be elected, I don’t know who it will be. The ANC will choose. In 2019, I will step down as president of the country,” said Zuma.
Zuma and his supporters remained unfazed as thousands of people descended on the Union Buildings to intensify calls for his resignation.
ANC senior MP Mathole Motshekga and veterans Mavuso Msimang and Ben Turok yesterday joined calls for the party to convene an urgent special meeting of its national executive to discuss calls for Zuma to step down.
Motshekga said the challenge remained with the NEC as the highest decision-making body between elective conferences to decide on critical matters.
“As matters stand the leadership is aware of what is happening in the country and it has the capacity to identify the issues to discuss. The NEC has to intervene to prevent the country from descending into chaos,” said Motshekga.
He said the ANC was accountable to the 11 million people who voted it into office and it must act with speed to address the leadership challenge.
At the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication at Kliptown in Soweto, Zuma and his backers celebrated his 75th birthday in song, reiterating their support for the president.
Zuma was joined by his wife, Thobeka Madiba, Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, and ANC Women’s League president and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini. The ministers survived the reshuffle, despite public condemnation.