Party wants Zuma to be answerable to Luthuli House

THE ANC’s national conference wants President Jacob Zuma – as head of state – to be answerable to its Luthuli House headquarters now that he is no longer at the helm of the party.

Following commissions on party renewal‚ the ANC resolved that power must be vested in the ANC presidency at Luthuli House and not in the state at the Union Buildings. It means that Zuma will have to take instructions from his deputy and newly elected ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa.

The plenary heard that the incoming ANC national executive committee would have to manage two centres of power, now that the party head is not the president of the state.

Mismanagement of the two bases of power could force a recall of the president – Zuma. The plenary also heard that the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) should not elect old leaders – and should reconsider its age limit, which is at present 35.

The league is often criticised for having leaders who are not considered youth – with its president‚ Collen Maine‚ far above the cutoff age limit.

There has been a suggestion that the party have a council of elders to guide its new leadership, but that matter was not agreed on and was deferred to discuss at a later time.

ANC delegates have supported the need for a social media policy to govern what party members and leaders say on social media.

Most delegates supported an ANC Veterans’ League proposal that the party’s integrity commission should have more teeth.