Revolt led Gauteng ANC to back Zuma

AN internal rebellion forced the Gauteng ANC to backtrack on its initial calls for President Jacob Zuma to step down after the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Nkandla.

The Sunday Times can reveal that the judgment ignited heated debate at a meeting of the party’s provincial general council last Sunday that resulted in a compromise decision to accept Zuma’s apology.

It has also emerged that Zuma’s supporters fear he may be booed should he attend the province’s election manifesto launch on June 4.

Zuma’s backers staged a revolt at the council meeting and rejected an earlier decision of the provincial executive committee that called for Zuma to “do the right thing”. This was after the court found he had failed to uphold the constitution in his implementation of public protector Thuli Madonsela’s remedial actions.

Zuma addressed the meeting last Friday, and told Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile that he would attend next month’s rally at FNB Stadium even if not invited. Mashatile is known to be anti-Zuma.

Insiders said the judgment was introduced as a topic on Sunday by premier David Makhura, the deputy chairman.

Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau, the party’s regional chairman, fired the first salvo on Sunday by telling the meeting that his region had decided that Zuma should step down.

The ANC in Sedibeng, the smallest region in Gauteng, agreed that Zuma had to step down.

However, Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa came to Zuma’s defence.

Gauteng provincial secretary Hope Papo referred queries to ANC provincial spokesman Sam Modiba, who did not respond.