Sefako Makgatho Branch, The African National Congress (ANC)’s Sefako Makgatho branch has broken ranks and called on President Jacob Zuma to step down or face a national disciplinary committee for bringing the party’s name into disrepute.
The ANC has so far shown a united front against calls for Zuma’s resignation with Secretary General Gwede Mantashe announcing last week that the party accepted the president’s apology.
The party has been accused of choosing the president over the Constitutional Court by opposition parties and civil society following the court’s Nkandla ruling last week.
But the Sefako Makgatho branch, which represents the Greater Johannesburg Region, has penned a letter to Mantashe calling for the ANC to act.
Branch Chairperson Sasabona Manganye says if Zuma does not step down, he should face an integrity committee or the ANC’s national disciplinary committee instead.
“We have made our own reflection on that and we made certain recommendations to NEC. We are calling for the president to resign as both the ANC president and the State president and then the deputy president can act as the president until our next conference. It is just in a year to come.”
Yesterday, the ANC said it would give its regional branches a chance to weigh in on the Nkandla saga and the events of recent days.
Following an extended national working committee (NWC) meeting in Cape Town on Monday night, the party reaffirmed its support for the president.
But it says a decision on how to deal with the Constitutional Court judgment and its findings against President Zuma can only be made by consulting all its structures.
The NWC meeting ran into the night, with the outcome hardly a surprise.
Mantashe said the NWC has endorsed the top six’s earlier statementbacking Zuma.
“The NWC accepted the fact that the president has apologised and that’s the humility that is necessary for any leader.”
Mantashe dismissed calls for the president to step down as a publicity stunt by opposition parties.
He said the ANC will now direct its focus on campaigning ahead of the local government elections.
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