Split views over Jonas

OPINION was divided yesterday among ANC leaders in Nelson Mandela Bay – Mcebisi Jonas’s home region – over the deputy finance minister’s Gupta bombshell, with President Jacob Zuma loyalists questioning the timing of the announcement.

Jonas’s shock revelation came just days after former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor claimed on Facebook she had been offered the public enterprises ministerial position by the Guptas while Zuma was in the next room.

Champion Galela Zone D ANC chairman Mlindi Mangwana said they were 100% behind Jonas. The zone comprises wards 28, 30, 33 and 36.

“We commend comrade Jonas for speaking out because the morality of the organisation is very important,” he said.

“We expect our leadership in the NEC [national executive committee] to take drastic action against whoever is involved.

“We are saying hands off comrade Jonas, hands off because we need such leaders.”

At least six ANC leaders and councillors, who declined to be named, said they were dumbfounded by the news.

“Let’s wait and see if the NEC will be brave enough to force him [Zuma] to step down for the good of the organisation,” one councillor said.

“The best thing to do when you have such negative publicity is to protect the organisation and resign.”

Another councillor said: “The NEC has no other option but to recall him. Jonas and Vytjie can’t both lie about this.

“The president should resign to show he’s not bigger than the organisation.

“If he survives this, then it will prove that he is untouchable.”

A third councillor said the ANC must hold a special national general council meeting and call on veterans of the party to resolve the matter.

“The NEC meeting this weekend will be blessed with chaos,” the councillor said.

“The battle lines will be drawn at that meeting. I wish the resolution they arrive at will mend the ANC.”

Branch 13 chairman Samuel Davids said if Jonas’s claims were true, it was a sad day for the ANC.

“We hope the NEC will ... set up an

inquiry and report to the branches,” he said.

“We’re concerned that he [Jonas] made public comments about it and did not discuss it in the ANC.

“I haven’t heard anything saying that the ANC didn’t want to listen to him.

“Although we respect him [Jonas], we cannot blindly support him because people can change overnight.”

Eastern Cape MPLs Tony Duba and Christian Martin and ANC provincial executive committee member Andile Lungisa said the problem was with the Guptas abusing their influence.

Duba said the ANC had faced bigger challenges before and would weather the storm.

He referred to the 2007 Polokwane elective conference that di- vided the party and the thousands of members who defected to establish COPE.

“When you compare this [Jonas’s disclosure] to that, this is minimal,” he said.

Duba commended Jonas, saying they had full confidence in him.

“He’s one of our own. He was right not to accept that offer because, as he said, only the president can appoint a minister or deputy minister,” he said.

“Leaders should distance themselves from business individuals who use their proximity to leaders for their own benefit.”

Lungisa said everyone agreed there should be no individual or family influencing how government affairs were run.

“The behaviour of the Guptas should be condemned because it is wrong,” he said.

“But the attacks directed at the president of the ANC by the liberal media is an attack directed at the ANC.

“The leadership led by President Zuma must be protected.”

A senior provincial ANC Women’s League member pledged her support for Zuma, claiming the Guptas were out to tarnish his reputation.

“The Guptas are abusing their friendship with our president and are denting his reputation,” she said.

Another provincial leader, who did not want to be named, said there was no way Zuma would be recalled at the weekend as many NEC members were also compromised by the president’s relationship with the Gupta family.

“I think the NEC will not be able to recall him as some of them are conflicted; they are benefiting from his friendship with the Guptas.”

A former ANC national working committee member said Zuma must speak out and tell the NEC his side of the story.

“Right now it will be difficult to convince an ordinary person about the ANC, especially going to elections,” the member said.

“We need the president to explain to us if these issues are true.

“The fact that a third party knew about executive decisions is worrying.”

Sarah Baartman region chairman Mlungisi Mvoko said they were happy that Jonas had set the record straight.

“We support him not because he is from the Eastern Cape, but because this corporate capture of the state might be happening at a provincial or municipal level,” Mvoko said.

“He was right, it kills the democracy that we fought for.”