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The first branch of the ANC to publicly speak out against President Jacob Zuma this week says it has received an avalanche of messages in support of its decision to call for Zuma to step down and face censure.
The Sefako Makgatho branch, which incorporates parts of Doornfontein, Hillbrow, Berea and Joubert Part in Johannesburg, suggested to Luthuli House that Zuma should resign or be suspended following the damning Constitutional Court judgment last week.
The letter, sent to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, also suggested that Zuma could be suspended while the national disciplinary committee or integrity committee considers his case.
The branch’s secretary, Mphumeleli Vabaza, said: “We received a lot of messages of support from general members of the ANC. Many of them came from veterans of the ANC.”
The messages, he said, came from as far afield as the Western Cape, North West and Eastern Cape.
“Other people said they want to resign from their branches, and come and join ours. You must understand that we have done something that has never been done before, and now suddenly people feel that they can also speak.”
While many messages were congratulatory, others were critical. Vabaza said the branch endured sharp criticism for deciding to go to the media. “The issue of speaking out to the media came up very strongly. They accused us of breaching the ANC’s rules.”
The branch, which meets in the Johannesburg city centre every Monday, has about 80 members. The members, said Vabaza, were middle class people who work for both the government and the private sector. “We are neither too rich nor too poor. We are a generational mix of middle class people.
“Some are actually councillors in the City of Joburg.”
Branch chairperson Sasabona Manganye said their decision to speak out was necessary because they didn’t want to inherit an ANC that had no integrity.
“As a branch, we believe that the president’s conduct has thrown the name of the ANC into disrepute. As a branch, we don’t believe he is fit enough to continue as president. The deputy president must act until we elect a new leadership.”
The ANC, he said, should not be defending individuals.
“This should be handled by the national disciplinary committee or the integrity committee.”
Manganye said leaders mobilising popular support were setting a dangerous precedent.
“It means I can also do something wrong and then mobilise my branch to support me. It means I will continue in my office even if my conduct is wanting.
“We are trying to defend the ANC here.”
