Bay ANC joins chorus for Zuma to step down

The net is closing in on beleaguered President Jacob Zuma with ANC branch leaders in Nelson Mandela Bay joining the chorus of voices calling for him to step down.

In East London, delegates attending the ANC Youth League provincial general council on Sunday also used the platform to call for Zuma’s immediate removal.

The closed Buffalo City Metro branches’ meeting in East London was attended by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

Home Affairs Minister and ANC national executive committee (NEC) member Malusi Gigaba and Eastern Cape ANC deputy chairman Sakhumzi Somyo met Nelson Mandela Bay branches and councillors on Sunday.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the NEC’s decision to take collective responsibility and not to single out anyone for the ANC’s poor showing at the August 3 elections.

It did not take long before Zuma became the main topic, with various speakers attributing the ANC’s worst performance since 1994 to him.

They said the scandal over Zuma’s Nkandla homestead and the subsequent Constitutional Court judgment, as well as his links to the controversial Gupta family, had dented the party’s image and ultimately cost the ANC three key metropolitan municipalities.

Their discontent is further compounded by the battle between the Hawks and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, which some believe stems from a power struggle between Gordhan and Zuma.

While some Bay ANC branch leaders and councillors feel strongly that the December 2017 national elective conference should be brought forward to elect a new leadership structure, there are concerns that the current balance of forces will favour a structure that was sympathetic to Zuma.

Insiders said there was a strong call for Zuma to step down as president of the country and that the top six leaders of the ANC, which includes Zuma, should be replaced.

The top six are: Zuma, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, chairwoman Baleka Mbete, Mantashe, deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte and treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize.

Not all Bay branches attended the meeting, but The Herald understands there were representatives from 55 wards.

A branch secretary who attended the meeting said: “They called all the branches and councillors to give us feedback on the NEC resolution, but that did not happen. Instead, they listened to our grievances. “The majority of branches there called for the president to step down. They also said the remaining top six should step down.”

A councillor said: “The majority in the meeting called for Zuma, the remaining top five and the NEC to step down because they have cost the ANC so many metros. "

“They were saying the president must go because people did not vote for the ANC because of his scandals. “Some said they would not even wear ANC T-shirts with Zuma’s face.”

The councillor said the meeting ended when Gigaba had to catch a flight, and there was no resolution on the way forward. Another branch leader said there was a general feeling among all in attendance that the president was tainting the party’s image.

Some called for an early national elective conference, hoping it could reignite confidence in the party.

A third branch leader said: “Basically, it’s the same feeling that’s been there for a long time.

“It’s quite an embarrassing moment for the ANC to have a president like that in charge. “Most of the branches who were there called for the president to step down and they want an early [elective] conference.”

ANC regional task team coordinator Beza Ntshona was adamant yesterday that the call for Zuma’s resignation was not unanimous

“Individual people were just raising views. To say it was unanimous is not true. Not all branches of the ANC were represented in the meeting,” he said.

Asked what views were raised, Ntshona said: “People were raising their concerns on issues surrounding the president. There was no call for him to step down."

“Those views that were raised will be packaged and we will wait until we convene the regional general conference where we can discuss those issues with all the branches.”

The ANC is facing mounting pressure from prominent leaders who want Zuma to step down.

Last week, renowned businessman and academic Sipho Pityana told a crowd of about 5 000 at former Eastern Cape premier Makhenkesi Stofile’s funeral that it was time for Zuma to hand over the reins.

“The next battle cannot be led by a leader who has humiliated our organisation and undermined everything that we represent,” Pityana said.

This sparked a heated debate on social media, with many backing Pityana for voicing what a large number of ANC members were feeling.

The youth league recently called for its mother body to hold an early national elective conference to revive itself. The league, particularly its national leaders, have been strong defenders of Zuma, prompting some within the party to question their motives.

A Bay youth league member believes that it was a strategic move by the league to control the process of who would ultimately take charge of the ruling party.

“They realise that the president is facing a lot of pressure to resign, so they’re trying to arrange a dignified exit for him. “They know that with the amount of support for Zuma [from] the youth league, the women’s league and the so-called “Premier League”, they would be strong to choose someone [who is close to Zuma].”

A Bay branch leader agreed, saying Zuma was still too strong and influential, and any successor would still rule under his thumb.

“The call by the youth league for an early conference tells you that Zuma himself must have said he is ready to step down and he will be involved with who his successor will be

Another insider said: “Some are hoping that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma [Zuma’s former wife] will take over as president and protect him from facing corruption charges.