ANC Gauteng PGC takes 'reconciliatory view' on Nkandla

18 May 2016

Johannesburg - There was no real difference between the ANC Gauteng's provincial executive committee's statement on the Nkandla matter and the provincial general council's, it just took a more "reconciliatory view", the party's Sefako Makgatho branch in the Greater Johannesburg region said on Wednesday.

"It was more like a common ground for all of us… to make sure we are a united ANC going to local government elections..," branch chairperson Sasabona Manganye told News24.

He said the only difference between the PEC's statement which called on President Jacob Zuma to "do the right thing" and the PGC statement, was that now the province was calling on the president and the national working committee to engage in self-reflection.

"You are more like saying, 'SA leader let your conscience guide you to decide because you know what is right and wrong'.

"That's what it simply means," Manganye said.

Last month, in a letter sent to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, the Sefako Makgatho branch called on Zuma to resign or face the party's integrity commission or the national disciplinary committee.

Apology accepted

On the same day, at the party's Liliesleaf Farm branch's political dialogue held in Midrand, Johannesburg, there appeared to be a consensus that other branches should follow the example of the Sefako Makgatho branch.

Shortly after this, the Gauteng PEC issued a statement calling on Zuma to "do the right thing" to fix the political damage caused by the Nkandla matter.

The statement, however, stopped short of saying that it wanted to Zuma to step down as leader.

Following the PGC held in Pretoria at the weekend, the province resolved to accept Zuma's apology.

"The PGC resolved to accept the apology of the president. That the president, NEC [national executive council] and the whole movement must continue reflecting on the matter."

Explaining the resolution, Gauteng secretary Hope Papo on Sunday said the PEC had indicated that its decision was subject to discussion by branches.

"In fact, the PEC has to get its mandate from branches… it's not a floating structure. When it takes decisions, it subjects them to branches of the organisation," he said.

Meeting with Mantashe

Papo said the PGC had made a decision which would be in the best interests of the organisation.

Makgatho said branches in Johannesburg had met with Mantashe on Monday.

"We raised the same issues that we raised in the letter, but at least this time in a meeting.

"We were given a hearing and we will allow the NEC to apply its mind and advise us on their final determination which will be binding to all of us."

A senior ANC Gauteng member, who did not want to be named because he did not have a mandate to speak on behalf of branches, said the PGC statement, when read properly, reflected the PEC statement.

"It still says the president must reflect. Maybe they were just trying to find the middle ground. I think there is no difference from the PEC statement because they are still saying the president must reflect," he told News24.

The ANC in Gauteng has said that the final decision lies with the NEC on how to deal with the matter.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.