Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma is unlikely to resign even as branches in his ruling party call on him to do the right thing. The president has been surrounded by controversy from corruption, rape to presidential capture.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC)’s Gauteng branch yesterday called on the President to do the right thing in light of the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) judgement on the Nkandla case. The ‘Honourable’ President was found to have failed in his constitutional obligations to uphold and defend the constitution of South Africa.
An important ruling for the country that clearly explained the separation of powers, and underpinned the importance of the constitution in the country.
A document that is enshrined with key institutions such as the “Public Protector” and protects the country from slipping into another sad African state.
Gauteng is an important province in South Africa, contributing just under 35%, to the nation’s GDP, with a boundary covering the economic capital of the country (Johannesburg) and the administrative capital (Pretoria). The province is home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange in Africa.
The Gauteng ANC is led by Paul Mashatile a former Premier of the Gauteng province dropped by Zuma from cabinet where he had held the Arts and Culture portfolio, Mashatile was recently incorporated into the Gauteng provincial government led by David Makhura as a Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Human Settlements and Co-operative Governance. Makhura deputises Mashatile in the Gauteng ANC leadership, elected in October 2014.
The Gauteng ANC has steadfastly held the line and stood with the people from the e-toll controversy which they consistently opposed and advocated for alternative funding methods for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. The leadership also supported the candidacy of Kgalema Motlanthe in the ANC leadership elections in 2012, Mangaung won decisively by Zuma.
The Gauteng ANC has shown courage and determination in calling for Zuma to do the right thing and resign over and above their standing call for Zuma to pay his part for the Nkandla non-security upgrades. It is this principled approach that has set the Gauteng chapter on a collision course with the mother body on numerous occasions.
Allegations of “State Capture” recently termed the “Presidential Capture” have seriously compromised the Zuma presidency.
Several ANC leaders including current Deputy Finance Minister, Mcebisi Jonas confirmed being offered cabinet positions by the Gupta family (Zuma’s friends who are in business with the president’s son – Duduzane).
The chickens have home for the Gupta family as the country’s 4 largest banks (Absa, FNB, Nedbank and Standard Bank), Sasfin and the auditors KPMG all walking away from the Gupta owned Oakbay resources.
This has resulted in Guptas resigning in their management and board positions at Oakbay.
This being a company that the Guptas and Zuma would have cashed in on, from the controversial future nuclear energy power stations that got Minister Nene fired in December 2015.
Conclusion:
President Zuma is unlikely to resign and in all matters he is determined to stick it out until the end of his term.
The Gauteng ANC has shown integrity and consistency in its moral barometer by calling on Zuma to do the right thing.
We must not forget that Zuma was the head of Intelligence for the ANC in exile and as such holds enough dirt and skeletons to discredit anyone who has fallen out of favour.
Further his administration has allowed a culture of corruption and impunity with close members all with fingers in the pie doing business with the Guptas.
They regard this as their time.
If there was consistency in the ANC they will recall him. President Thabo Mbeki was recalled based on the decision of one judge of the high court, which was later overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeal. in Zuma’s case 11 judges of the ConCourt, the apex court in the land, unanimously ruled against Zuma and yet Gwede Mantashe, the secretary general of the ANC has rejected calls for Zuma to be recalled saying this is a call for the party to tear itself.
Taking a leaf from brother leader the neighbour comrade in the north (Zimbabwe), Zuma might as well says to his critics,” handiende”
I AM GOING NOWHERE.
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