How Zuma survived call for him to resign by ANC’s integrity commission
A report tabling ANC stalwarts' reservations about President Jacob Zuma's leadership was not allowed to be presented at a national executive committee (NEC) meeting.
President Jacob Zuma at the opening of the ANC’s 5th national policy conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia
Headed by struggle veteran Andrew Mlangeni, the integrity commission called for Zuma to resign but he dismissed their proposal, stating Western powers would capture the ruling party if he did so.
According to City Press, Zuma had met with the commission and its members in December and April this year. Following consultations with the organisational structure, an offer was put to him that he should resign. This was contained in a report drafted by the commission.
This also follows a motion of no confidence first tabled by former minister of tourism Derek Hanekom in 2016 and Joel Netshitenze in May.
In responding to the commission, Zuma said his resignation would be considered a betrayal to the people and the revolution.
A source told the weekly Zuma had been made aware of plots to get rid of him.
“When he was head of the ANC’s intelligence department, he had been advised of plots to get rid of him. Recently, he had been made aware of similar plots and threats to his security. Much of the detail that the president gave the commission was in confidence.
“The essence of the president’s refusal to resign is his belief that there exists a conspiracy by Western governments to oust him as president of the ANC and of the country. Their objective is to replace him in order to capture the ANC.”
Zuma’s response was slated by the commission which stated that support for the ANC had declined under his leadership and that a Western conspiracy cannot be to blame for his dwindling support. The report highlighted the commission’s disappointment that Zuma no longer sought their advice on internal and serious political matters.
An insider said Zuma felt undermined by the commission and the report.
“He wished that the meeting had happened before some commissioners had become involved in the 101 Veterans’ and Umkhonto weSizwe Veterans’ initiatives. He felt that this called into question the independence of the commission. He believed that he had been judged prematurely, without having been given the opportunity to explain his position.”
The commission’s chairperson, Mlangeni, had requested for the report to be discussed at an ANC NEC meeting, however this was turned down by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.
“Reports of the integrity commission do not go to the NEC, in terms of the national general council meeting. But people wanted it for their own purposes.
“Because the question is: Why don’t they ask for the report on Sbu [Ndebele], on Bathabile [Dlamini], on [Phumelele] Ndamase? There were four reports that we had at the time: three proper reports and … this one on the commission meeting.
“There is no quashing of any report.”
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