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President Jacob Zuma has convinced the ANC that there was no intention on his part to act inconsistently with the Constitution, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe says.
Speaking at a media briefing following the party’s top-six meeting earlier on today, Mantashe said “it was important that Zuma humbled himself and apologised to the nation”.
Yesterday, the Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma violated the Constitution when he failed to comply with the remedial actions of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela regarding so-called security upgrades at his private residence in Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Ahead of Mantashe’s briefing, in a controversial statement that sought to absolve him of any wrongdoing, Zuma apologised to the nation.
Mantashe said the opposition’s reaction to the court ruling and calls for Zuma to be impeached were disproportionate.
“We are not surprised by the opposition calling for impeachment. They did that two months ago,” he said.
He said the ANC was “extremely weary of the attempts by opposition and some sections of our society who are eager to see the ANC tear itself apart”.
“We are not going to play to the gallery and do what makes the opposition happy,” said Mantashe.
What the ANC views as urgent is the implementation of the judgment, he said.
Mantashe said Zuma had also assured the ANC that he would implement the judgment and the ANC had confidence that the National Assembly would also comply.
He said the ANC would hold an extended national working committee meeting on Monday, which would be attended by any members of the national executive committee.
On Tuesday, Mantashe would address the ANC caucus in Parliament in Cape Town, followed by a series of meeting with ANC structures and social stakeholders throughout the week.
