Branch slaps down Manyi
Controversial former top official fails to convince comrades to ‘go easy’
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma’s staunch defender Mzwanele “Jimmy” Manyi failed to convince his ANC branch to accept the president’s apology as a revolt against Zuma spread within party structures.
The ANC’s Rivonia Heroes branch will file a complaint against Zuma, despite pleas by Manyi for the branch to “accept the apology and move on”.
The Sunday Times understands that Manyi was defeated at a meeting on Thursday night at Liliesleaf in Rivonia, after a unanimous rejection of Zuma’s apology.
Instead, the branch wants Zuma to be disciplined.
The growing revolt came as Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday sang Zuma’s praises during a voter registration drive in northern KwaZulu-Natal, saying he supported the president.
“Viva President Jacob Zuma viva, viva Nxamalala viva,” Ramaphosa shouted to loud applause.
At the Liliesleaf meeting, Manyi grudgingly accepted that a complaint be filed against Zuma, but warned that the branch should not to be too negative as this would play into the hands of the opposition.
The branch resolved that a letter be sent to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe requesting that the integrity committee investigate if Zuma had breached the party’s constitution after the Constitutional Court ruled that he failed to uphold and defend the constitution.
“We must state in that letter that we are offended by the president and feel let down by his actions,” said a branch member.
Manyi declined to comment yesterday.
More branches have held general meetings to discuss the judgment, as instructed by the ANC’s extended national working committee.
Several branches in Gauteng, the Western Cape and Limpopo have resolved that Zuma must go.
The first branch to call for Zuma’s resignation was Sefako Makgatho in central Johannesburg.
Some branches in the Dullah Omar region in Cape Town — such as Gaby Shapiro, which has ANC stalwart Denis Goldberg as a member — have also called for Zuma’s head.
On Friday, Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile said the provincial executive committee would meet tomorrow to discuss the judgment.
Mashatile called on the ANC not to be dismissive of stalwarts such as Ahmed Kathrada and Goldberg, who have called on Zuma to resign.
“Our view is that the stalwarts who are speaking should be listened to and be engaged,” said Mashatile.
“Those who are in our province, we will talk to them because in this situation we will seek to influence one another,” he added.
But Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, Mashatile’s colleague in the national executive committee, lashed out at ANC veterans.
“There’s a . . . tendency where veterans, stalwarts and ex-leaders see themselves as being above the organisation,” Gigaba told supporters in Gugulethu on Thursday night.
In Limpopo, the ANC investigated claims that some of its branches have called for Zuma’s resignation.
ANC Limpopo provincial secretary Knocks Seabi said they found that those who wanted Zuma to go were branch leaders.
In North West, provincial secretary Dakota Legoete rejected calls by religious leaders for Zuma to quit.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said it was confident that none of its branches would make pronouncements against Zuma.
Veterans, including Cheryl Carolus, Mavuso Msimang and Ronnie Kasrils, joined the chorus of calls for Zuma to step down. — Additional reporting by and Neo Goba
❛ We must state in that letter we are offended by the president and feel let down