Sparks expected to fly as NEC decides ANC future

Today, the party leadership will also visit the graves of former ANC presidents Josiah Gumede, John Langalibalele Dube and Inkosi Albert Luthuli.

But a senior ANC leader in KZN, who is a known Zuma supporter, said the party was concerned about Zuma’s recall and implications – more so after hundreds of amabutho (Zulu warriors) marched to the Durban City Hall wielding traditional weapons on Friday, and were addressed by Zuma. It was seen as the start of Zuma’s fightback strategy as calls for his recall grew.

The ANC Top Six meeting with the king was also expected to discuss this matter, said one leader ahead of the meeting.

“Remember that ultimately the king is the commander of the Zulu army and therefore the matter should be discussed to ensure that amabutho are not used to fight political battles,” the leader, who did not want to be named, said.

“KZN is the only province where the ANC has been increasing its electoral support and, to some extent, that can be attributed to the Zuma appeal. Now, if they remove him… you are then risking the KZN voter apathy come 2019 and we have to consider what that would do for the movement. That is what we are saying they (the NEC) should consider,” he said.

A tripartite alliance leader said the Top Six wanted to make an assessment of the mood of people around Zuma should he be removed.

He said the new leadership did not want to make the same mistake former president Thabo Mbeki made in 2005 by underestimating Zuma’s influence in KZN, which later became a seedbed for his fightback.

Police Minister and ANC national executive committee member Fikile Mbalula, who has been one of Zuma’s vocal backers, yesterday expressed confidence that Ramaphosa would help improve the image of the ANC.

Speaking at a mini-rally in East London in the Eastern Cape, Mbalula said the ANC’s decline and problems in the past have been attributable to Zuma as the president and not to the ANC itself and its capacity to implement its policies.

“We went to that conference contesting each other and came out united with Ramaphosa as our president… there is no other president. The fairy tale of who wanted who (as president) has ended now.”

The majority of the ANC’s new national executive committee have already made their to the city ahead of their crucial meeting. The Eastern Cape was the biggest ANC provincial block behind Ramaphosa’s presidential bid during last month’s national elective congress.