Why the ANC won’t recall Zuma
A political analyst believes that the ANC is reluctant to recall president Jacob Zuma because there is no idea within that party of what would happen next.
Zuma is in the spotlight again amid allegations of an attempted state capture in conjunction with the Gupta family, which has led to calls for the president to step down.
And while the the Gupta episode has seemingly created a split within the ruling party, its secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Sunday, that the ANC continues to confirm its full confidence in the president.
Zuma’s second term as ANC president will end in December 2017, while his term as state president ends mid 2019.
Stephen Chan, international politics of southern Africa professor at London’s Soas university, told IBTimes UK, that despite mounting scandals and economic woe, the ANC is unlikely to opt for a new leader.
“The [ANC] certainly have the power to recall Zuma, they recalled former president Thabo Mbeki in 2008. But ANC won’t oust Zuma right now because there has not been an agreement behind the scenes on what should happen.”
Zwelinzima Vavi, a former general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, noted that many of the ANC’s top brass have been appointed to Cabinet posts by Zuma.
“Those who think the national executive committee made up of men and women of that calibre… dream on, it’s not going to happen. Only the people of South Africa can stand up at this moment and say they’ve had enough.”
EFF leader Julius Malema recently weighed into the ANC’s 2017 succession battle by saying that the president wanted his ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to succeed him because she would protect him.
“He knows Cyril [Ramaphosa] will arrest him. That’s why the ‘premier league’ prefers Zuma’s wife,” Malema said.
The premier league is said to include North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, Free State Premier Ace Magashule and Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza.
Their plan is allegedly to entrench themselves as leaders or kingmakers for 2017 when Zuma’s successor will be elected.
It is believed the group wants Dlamini-Zuma to lead the ANC and to block Ramaphosa from taking over from Zuma.
“He’s going to jail… If Cyril becomes president, definitely Cyril will arrest him,” Malema said.
On Tuesday, BusinessDay reported that deputy finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, who has said he was offered the finance minister post by the Gupta family, will take part in a probe into so-called “state-capture” by business, to be conducted by the ANC.
The Guptas have denied the claims.
The Sunday Times reported that former head of the Government Communication and Information System, Themba Maseko, fingered President Jacob Zuma as having played a key role in driving state business to the Gupta family.
The paper reported that Zuma phoned Maseko directly to ensure he met the Gupta brothers.
Maseko said when he met the Guptas they asked the GCIS to spend state money on advertising in The New Age newspaper.
He said that he will be among the first to give his submission.
Mantashe called on all members who have information to approach the secretary general’s office. “The NEC will develop a Code of Conduct for ANC members doing business with the state,” he said.
He said he will politically protect anyone who comes forward.
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