When ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe spoke out after a special extended ANC National Working Committee meeting on Tuesday, the writing was effectively on the wall for the Anti-Zuma faction both inside and outside the ANC.

“No soldiers will take orders from an enemy general,” was Mantashe’s thinly disguised swing at the leader of the EFF and his “Commander-in-Chief” moniker.

Malema and the DA’s Mmusi Maimane have played directly into the hands of the Pro-Zuma faction and President Jacob Zuma, eroding any support they may have had within the ANC for a regime change.

Also read: Oops: Protest march against Zuma begins at 10am in Ladysmith

Also read: Update: Delayed protest march against Zuma fizzles out in Ladysmith

They forgot the cardinal rule: no matter how divided the ANC may be, to attack it only unites them.

The closure of the ANC ranks around Zuma can be placed squarely at the doors of the opposition parties who, instead of looking at the holistic picture, focused instead on their own constituencies.

This was one time where allowing the ANC to clean its own home would have worked…

It is amazing how many people make the mistake of believing President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is not a shrewd and very adept politician. He is exactly that and borders on being a political genius. He has been fighting for survival within the ANC for the better part of 58 years!

Just reading Zuma’s struggle credentials – “Zuma was instrumental in the re-establishment of ANC underground structures in the then Natal province. During this time, Zuma joined the African National Congress’ Department of Intelligence, where he later became the department’s Head of Intelligence…” – should tell anyone dealing with him that he is no fool and wise to the workings of the ANC structures.

His move against Gordhan was exceptionally well timed and while everyone turned on him, he waited to play his biggest card, the loyalty one…

The more civil society turned on him, the more the ANC as a whole came under attack. Anyone who knows anything about rank and file ANC membership will know that they will defend the party above all else.

The Tuesday press conference at the end of the special extended ANC National Working Committee meeting made this point abundantly clear.

But before all Zuma’s supporters get too carried away with their success, Secretary General Gwede Mantashe reaffirmed a growing desire for control of the government to be moved back to Luthuli house, for ministers to be more answerable to the ANC itself. It is important to note that Mantashe does not mention control by parliament, but control by the party.

He also reiterated that the presidential candidate of the ANC is always the president of the ANC, a clear warning shot that come December at the ANC National Conference, a new president is likely to be elected for both the ANC and possibly even the country?

But a betting man would see Zuma seeing out his full term as president, as anything else would strengthen the opposition – something the ANC, approaching an election year, can little afford.