Zuma is holding ANC hostage

29 November 2016

It is clear that Pres. Zuma is holding the ANC hostage with the threat of the party splitting if the party tries to get rid of him,” Dr. Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus, said.

In reaction to the ANC’s National Executive Committee’s statement on the motion of no-confidence on the president, Jacob Zuma, Dr. Groenewald said the ANC learnt an expensive lesson after the party split in 2007 and Cope was formed.

He said the ANC realises that if it were to split again, there would be a good chance that the party loses the 2019 election.

“It is clear that Gwede Mantashe, the secretary general of the ANC, is doing everything within his power to create the impression to the outside world that there is consensus and unity in the governance structures of the ANC, and that is why he his focussing on saying that the National Democratic Revolution is still on course and that the ANC is working hard on a roadmap to ensure success in the 2019 election.

“That means that Zuma will remain president of the ANC until at least the electoral congress in December 2017, and even possibly until 2019 as president of South Africa.

“Zuma is a master at shifting blame, and it is seen from the NEC meeting in that Mantashe said the attack had its roots in racism, ethnic nationality, and foreign capitalism. Regarding the NEC, all the allegations against Zuma are mere ‘negative rumours’.

“We will have to wait and see whether the ministers who had seriously raised their objections to Zuma will be resigning from Cabinet and whether Zuma will shuffle his Cabinet,” Dr. Groenewald said.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus Leader, 29 November 2016