The ANC’s “top 5” tried to convince president Jacob Zuma to step down following a Constitutional Court ruling this week, but the president refused – now the party leaders are implementing a plan B.<\/p>\n
This is according to a report in Rapport on Sunday (3 April), citing senior sources within the ANC.<\/p>\n
The paper reported that the top 5 – Gwede Mantashe, Cyril Ramaphosa, Zweli Mkhize, Baleka Mbete and Jessie Duarte – met with Zuma to discuss his resignation, but couldn’t reach an agreement.<\/p>\n
Instead, the party decided to put up a united front ahead of the 2016 elections, and slowly start the mechanisations to have the president recalled afterwards.<\/p>\n
The paper’s sources said\u00a0that Zuma had agreed to hold a national council meeting and a meeting with the provincial leaders after the elections, to discuss a possible\u00a0exit and the question of succession.<\/p>\n
On Friday, in back-to-back press briefings, Zuma and the ANC acknowledged a ruling by the Constitutional Court which said that Zuma and the National Assembly had violated the constitution.<\/p>\n
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng handed down judgement on a matter brought before the court by the EFF and DA against Zuma, regarding the long-drawn Nkandla saga.<\/p>\n
The judgment related to the non-security upgrades \u2013 paid for by the taxpayer \u2013 at president\u00a0 Zuma\u2019s private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n
Zuma apologised to the nation for the whole saga, but defended his actions, saying that he was not aware he was violated the constitution.<\/p>\n
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe came out after the president’s address and put up a united front, showing support for the president.<\/p>\n
However, when asked if Zuma had become a liability for the ANC ahead of the elections, Mantashe emphasized that the party did not revolve around one man.<\/p>\n
The SG said that the party would set up further meetings with ANC party members and stakeholders from Monday (4 April) – which the Rapport’s sources say is the first step of the party’s plan to have Zuma recalled later in the year, after the elections.<\/p>\n
The full story can be read in the Rapport for 3 April 2016<\/em><\/p>\n End of the road for Zuma: experts<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Why Zuma\u2019s face is not on ANC election posters<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Gordhan setting up a team to calculate Zuma\u2019s Nkandla bill<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on Zuma<\/h3>\n