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Home » ANC NEC: Zuma Stays BUT We Will Vote a NEW ANC Leader in 2017

ANC NEC: Zuma Stays BUT We Will Vote a NEW ANC Leader in 2017

As expected, the ANC (African National Congress) NEC has announced that President Jacob Zuma remains. They decided, they said, to rather focus their energy on “unity of the movement” than on the motion on whether the South African President should step down. However, at the end of the press Q&A, Secretary General Gwede Mantashe did reveal the […]

By SAPeople
29-11-16 15:54
in News
Zuma laughing

As expected, the ANC (African National Congress) NEC has announced that President Jacob Zuma remains. They decided, they said, to rather focus their energy on “unity of the movement” than on the motion on whether the South African President should step down. However, at the end of the press Q&A, Secretary General Gwede Mantashe did reveal the ANC will elect a new leader in 2017.

The NEC (National Executive Committee) said the “issues [raised at the NEC meeting over the weekend] will not be brushed under the carpet. They will be dealt with.”

The NEC did not specify the issues, but said they identified 15 items. Gwede said one of the items is the “negative narrative directed at the President“. That item was discussed in detail, said the NEC. It was discussed “sufficiently and robustly and it’s a closed matter now.”

They said people outside of the ANC were trying to blame Nkandla and State of Capture for the loss of votes in Gauteng. The State Capture Report was circulated for all NEC members to look at – they decided it was inconclusive and agree it needs a Commission of Enquiry.

The ANC’s NEC meeting was meant to end on Sunday but was extended until Monday night after Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom allegedly (bravely!) called for a motion to vote for no-confidence in the President. (The NEC stressed today that while talking in the NEC, members are all equal members and “no longer ministers”… and that for the press to call them ministers and senior ministers “is actually bordering on mischief… because you are creating a special status”.)

Jobs will not be on the line for those who spoke against the President, said Gwede: “Nobody will be treated differently for how they behave in the NEC.” The NEC also said they don’t expect any resignations following the meeting.

The ANC will not be commanded by generals of the enemy

There was no vote or motion of no confidence, said Gwede. He said the last such vote he knows of was in Parliament, raised by the opposition. He then stressed (quite passionately!) that the ANC NEC remind each other all of the time that they “will not be commanded by generals of the enemy… we will never surrender our forces to the general of the enemy.”

He confirmed there was a call for the President to step down… which was discussed among comrades in a meeting. “We affirm [Zuma] as the President of the party and the President of the Republic.”

Jessie Duarte, Deputy Secretary General of the ANC, said the ANC has identified that “economic power alludes us and must be the way we move forward very rapidly“. She said the motions of no-confidence keep being brought by the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) who has “no programme, no plan” other than to disrupt parliament and try to destabilise the revolution (ANC). She said “bring it on” and that the ANC is “equally determined for them not to succeed”. (Watch below.)

In response to concerns that surveys show the ANC’s support of Zuma will lead to the ANC losing the 2019 General Election, Gwede said he cannot take the surveys seriously – he prefers to engage people in the areas where the ANC  can “own up to our mistakes, explain our decisions”.

Then he added: “We have a national conference of  2017… we will elect a new leader of the ANC… who will be the face of the ANC in the 2019 campaign.”

President Zuma was not present at the media briefing on Tuesday afternoon. He has flown to Cuba for the funeral of Fidel Castro.

Watch the ANC media brief post NEC meeting, 29 November 2016