The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has resolved that President Jacob Zuma should resign as party and state president‚ according to highly placed insiders.
TMG Digital understands that at an extended provincial executive (PEC) meeting held on Monday evening‚ the province decided that Zuma was no longer fit to lead the party.
Gauteng is the first province to defy a decision by the ANC National executive committee (NEC) to support the president
“ANC Gauteng‚ through its extended PEC meeting‚ resolved that the ANC and state president must resign‚” a source close to the meeting said.
The insider said the resolution was reached through consensus in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Gauteng ANC’s decision to push for Zuma’s axing follows a number of branches in Johannesburg that have written to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe calling for Zuma’s resignation following the Constitutional Court judgment against him.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng ruled that Zuma violated the Constitution in his handling of the Nkandla matter.
Zuma subsequently blamed wrong legal advice for his actions and apologised to the public.
The ANC’s extended national working committee accepted Zuma’s apology last week and instructed its parliamentary caucus to block a motion of no confidence brought by the opposition against the president.
Gauteng ANC leaders were apparently dissatisfied with Zuma’s response to the judgment and were unanimous that he should step down.
Gauteng ANC spokesperson Nkenke Kekana and provincial secretary Hope Papo were unavailable for comment on Tuesday morning.
The ANC in Gauteng has always been at odds with Zuma with provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile vocal on the Nkandla debacle.
The decision by the province might find them in hot water.
According to ANC policy‚ a lower structure (a province) cannot undermine a decision of its national leadership — in this case to support the president.
Last week‚ Mantashe singled out ANC Gauteng deputy chairperson and premier David Makhura for saying that the country is more important than loyalty to the organisation.
“Whether it is Makhura or it is the veterans or a branch in the inner city‚ if they talk about the party in public negatively‚ the public will remember that. ANC members‚ we must debate these issues and engage society but if they choose to take public platforms and look good by insulting the president‚ they’ll pay the price obviously.”
Mashatile told the Sunday Times last week that the ANC in Gauteng would not be muzzled by Luthuli House.
“We don’t know what [Mantashe] meant. All I know is that we will say things...If we think things are wrong we will say it. That is our position. We have always worked like that. If the SG [Mantashe] feels there is something wrong we have said then he must tell us what it is. But we don’t want to engage with him in the media‚” he told the paper.
ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee media statement
12th April 2016
ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) held a Special meeting on Monday‚ 11th April 2016. The meeting received a detailed report on the decisions of the Extended ANC National Working Committee (NWC) regarding the Constitutional Court judgement.
The PEC welcomed the decision by the NWC for a broader consultation and engagement on its decision within ANC constitutional structures‚ the Alliance and various sectors of society. Working with ANC Regional Executive Committees (REC’s)‚ the PEC will coordinate a programme to consult widely among ANC constitutional structures‚ especially branch members.
During these consultation meetings‚ we will report about the decision of the NWC and seek the views of our members and a broad cross section of sectors of our society.
The ANC is recognized as a central mobiliser‚ organiser and inspirer of a vast popular mass of progressive organizations and their views are important to us.
We call on all ANC members to exercise maximum discipline by actively participating in this internal consultation process. The outcome of this consultation process will be discussed with the ANC national leadership.
In this regard‚ The PEC noted and accepted the public apology of President Jacob Zuma. However‚ the PEC believes that the apology is just the beginning of dealing with the political damage and mistrust caused by the mismanagement of the Nkandla matter.
The PEC believes that the ANC has already paid a prize during the 2014 elections‚ due to among others‚ the anger of the electorate about the matter. As the ANC we have to do a deeper introspection and take far-reaching decisions that will repair the damage to our image and to continue to enjoy the confidence and trust of our people.
The PEC reiterated that the ANC has earned its leadership of society through the struggles and sacrifices of its members and supporters over generations.
It is in that context that our President comrade Jacob Zuma should reflect deeply and do the right thing to resolve the unprecedented crisis that the ANC currently faces.
The ANC has never taken the support of our people for granted and was founded to defend and advance the rights of our people.
Gauteng to break ranks and call for Zuma to stand down
The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has resolved that President Jacob Zuma should resign as party and state president‚ according to highly placed insiders.
TMG Digital understands that at an extended provincial executive (PEC) meeting held on Monday evening‚ the province decided that Zuma was no longer fit to lead the party.
Gauteng is the first province to defy a decision by the ANC National executive committee (NEC) to support the president
“ANC Gauteng‚ through its extended PEC meeting‚ resolved that the ANC and state president must resign‚” a source close to the meeting said.
The insider said the resolution was reached through consensus in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Gauteng ANC’s decision to push for Zuma’s axing follows a number of branches in Johannesburg that have written to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe calling for Zuma’s resignation following the Constitutional Court judgment against him.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng ruled that Zuma violated the Constitution in his handling of the Nkandla matter.
Zuma subsequently blamed wrong legal advice for his actions and apologised to the public.
The ANC’s extended national working committee accepted Zuma’s apology last week and instructed its parliamentary caucus to block a motion of no confidence brought by the opposition against the president.
Gauteng ANC leaders were apparently dissatisfied with Zuma’s response to the judgment and were unanimous that he should step down.
Gauteng ANC spokesperson Nkenke Kekana and provincial secretary Hope Papo were unavailable for comment on Tuesday morning.
The ANC in Gauteng has always been at odds with Zuma with provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile vocal on the Nkandla debacle.
The decision by the province might find them in hot water.
According to ANC policy‚ a lower structure (a province) cannot undermine a decision of its national leadership — in this case to support the president.
Last week‚ Mantashe singled out ANC Gauteng deputy chairperson and premier David Makhura for saying that the country is more important than loyalty to the organisation.
“Whether it is Makhura or it is the veterans or a branch in the inner city‚ if they talk about the party in public negatively‚ the public will remember that. ANC members‚ we must debate these issues and engage society but if they choose to take public platforms and look good by insulting the president‚ they’ll pay the price obviously.”
Mashatile told the Sunday Times last week that the ANC in Gauteng would not be muzzled by Luthuli House.
“We don’t know what [Mantashe] meant. All I know is that we will say things...If we think things are wrong we will say it. That is our position. We have always worked like that. If the SG [Mantashe] feels there is something wrong we have said then he must tell us what it is. But we don’t want to engage with him in the media‚” he told the paper.
ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee media statement
12th April 2016
ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) held a Special meeting on Monday‚ 11th April 2016. The meeting received a detailed report on the decisions of the Extended ANC National Working Committee (NWC) regarding the Constitutional Court judgement.
The PEC welcomed the decision by the NWC for a broader consultation and engagement on its decision within ANC constitutional structures‚ the Alliance and various sectors of society. Working with ANC Regional Executive Committees (REC’s)‚ the PEC will coordinate a programme to consult widely among ANC constitutional structures‚ especially branch members.
During these consultation meetings‚ we will report about the decision of the NWC and seek the views of our members and a broad cross section of sectors of our society.
The ANC is recognized as a central mobiliser‚ organiser and inspirer of a vast popular mass of progressive organizations and their views are important to us.
We call on all ANC members to exercise maximum discipline by actively participating in this internal consultation process. The outcome of this consultation process will be discussed with the ANC national leadership.
In this regard‚ The PEC noted and accepted the public apology of President Jacob Zuma. However‚ the PEC believes that the apology is just the beginning of dealing with the political damage and mistrust caused by the mismanagement of the Nkandla matter.
The PEC believes that the ANC has already paid a prize during the 2014 elections‚ due to among others‚ the anger of the electorate about the matter. As the ANC we have to do a deeper introspection and take far-reaching decisions that will repair the damage to our image and to continue to enjoy the confidence and trust of our people.
The PEC reiterated that the ANC has earned its leadership of society through the struggles and sacrifices of its members and supporters over generations.
It is in that context that our President comrade Jacob Zuma should reflect deeply and do the right thing to resolve the unprecedented crisis that the ANC currently faces.
The ANC has never taken the support of our people for granted and was founded to defend and advance the rights of our people.
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