Jackson Mthembu will not cut the mustard as ANC Chief Whip 

22 March 2016

The appointment of Jackson Mthembu to the troubled position of Chief Whip of the ANC will make little difference to the chaos prevailing in the National Assembly. He is too much of a spin doctor to enjoy the confidence of all parties. He has, in the recent pass, been accusing journalists of #Zumamustfall bias. He will therefore continue in his roll of a Zuma defender. He will not attempt to turn things around. Previously, when he was challenged about slate politics, he argued that it can’t happen like “instant coffee”.

The National Assembly needs someone as a Chief Whip who can effect an instant coffee solution. There is no place for dragging the feet and allowing the chaos to continue.

His function, as COPE sees it, will be to keep the ANC troops in line and to ensure that they continue to serve as useful voting idiots.

While he was willing to engage in a spat with the Minister of Communications, he will not dare to cross Mr Zuma and Baleka Mbete. He will certainly not punch above his weight.

Parliament will therefore remain in a state of tension with Zuma supporters on the one side and Zuma opponents on the other side. He will have little effect in bridging the yawning divide.

The ANC’s plan as we saw from the ANC NEC meeting is to defend Mr Zuma at all costs and Mr Mthembu will simply follow orders from Luthuli House. He will certainly not cut the mustard and help to change anything.

Issued by Dennis Bloem, National Spokesperson, COPE, 22 March 2016