National
Free State ANC fully behind Jacob Zuma─── 21:15 Sat, 02 Apr 2016
Bloemfontein - The Free State ANC leadership have cast their lot with President Jacob Zuma, welcoming his apology and accepting he had acted in good faith, with no deliberate intention to subvert the constitution.
Even before the media briefing started, which followed a special Provincial Executive Council meeting,it was already clear where their loyalties lie.
The songs and ululating in support of party president, Jacob Zuma, made this abundantly clear.
Provincial secretary, William Bulwane, read a prepared statement declaring the Free State's "unconditional support" of the president, while simultaneously expressing their respect for the Constitutional Court and Chapter Nine institutions such as the Public Protector.
The PEC believes the president's apology is symbolic of the respect he and the ANC hold for the country's democracy and see it as a sincere expression of remorse.
All calls for the president to step down were rubbished as "opportunistic" attempts by the opposition to weaken the ANC.
A strong ANC was a consistent theme throughout the briefing, with several members of the leadership calling on party members to avoid sowing division. Particular attention was paid to recent high-profile claims by members such as Vytjie Mentor and Deputy Finance Minister Mncebisi Jonas, that they had been offered cabinet positions by the Gupta family.
Provincial ANC chairperson, Ace Magashule, his deputy, Thabo Manyoni, as well as Bulwane, all stressed that this is in no way an indication of state capture, as the claims were unverified. They also repeatedly called on members to raise such matters within party structures, instead of through the media. This call was extended to its alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu.
Calling for a national debate on economic ownership, the PEC seems to believe that "white monopoly capital" is behind the persecution of both President Zuma and the Gupta family. Premier Ace Magashule, especially, seemed convinced that the entire Nkandla saga is nothing more than an attempt to weaken the ANC, by attacking its leaders.
"We are aware of the agenda of those who want regime change," he weighed in during the question and answer session. "As the ANC, the masses of our people cannot be stupid to see that there are these opportunists. We understand politics. Even if President Zuma is not there, you can put anyone there, they will not want that leader."
Magashule proffers this as the reason for the party's unwavering support for Zuma.
In response to a question on whether the PEC believes Zuma is fit to govern, despite being found in contravention of the Constitution, Magashule questioned why anyone would question the president's fitness for office, as he is already in his second term.
Speaker of the provincial legislature, Mamiki Qabathe, initially denied that the president had been found in violation of the constitution. However, she later simply stated that the PEC believes the president has never refused to adhere to the recommendations of the Public Protector.
She believes he had simply been awaiting National Treasury to determine how much he should pay back for the work done at Nkandla.
"In the process of waiting for the National Treasury to explain to him those calculations, people ran to court. They ran to the judiciary and then the judiciary came to these conclusions that they came to."
She, however, did not explain the president's March 2014 statement, when he said he would not pay for the upgrades to his homestead, as he had not asked for them. Neither did she mention his comments that the Public Protector's role is "akin to that of an ombud and quite distinct from that of a judge," meaning that they are non-binding recommendations.
Furthermore, none of the PEC members addressed the parallel investigations launched by parliament, which sought to indemnify the president, nor minister Thulas Nxesi's findings that the president could not be held liable for any of the upgrades.
Despite the party leadership throwing its weight behind the president, they have however vowed to take the matter to all it's structures. These will include branches and regions, as well as other interested parties, like the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
This echoes secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe's, undertaking that the party will engage with all its stakeholders in the upcoming week.
They are, however, adamant that the opinions of the opposition and monopoly capital will not be given the time of day.
Earl Coetzee/OFM News
The songs and ululating in support of party president, Jacob Zuma, made this abundantly clear.
Provincial secretary, William Bulwane, read a prepared statement declaring the Free State's "unconditional support" of the president, while simultaneously expressing their respect for the Constitutional Court and Chapter Nine institutions such as the Public Protector.
The PEC believes the president's apology is symbolic of the respect he and the ANC hold for the country's democracy and see it as a sincere expression of remorse.
All calls for the president to step down were rubbished as "opportunistic" attempts by the opposition to weaken the ANC.
A strong ANC was a consistent theme throughout the briefing, with several members of the leadership calling on party members to avoid sowing division. Particular attention was paid to recent high-profile claims by members such as Vytjie Mentor and Deputy Finance Minister Mncebisi Jonas, that they had been offered cabinet positions by the Gupta family.
Provincial ANC chairperson, Ace Magashule, his deputy, Thabo Manyoni, as well as Bulwane, all stressed that this is in no way an indication of state capture, as the claims were unverified. They also repeatedly called on members to raise such matters within party structures, instead of through the media. This call was extended to its alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu.
Calling for a national debate on economic ownership, the PEC seems to believe that "white monopoly capital" is behind the persecution of both President Zuma and the Gupta family. Premier Ace Magashule, especially, seemed convinced that the entire Nkandla saga is nothing more than an attempt to weaken the ANC, by attacking its leaders.
"We are aware of the agenda of those who want regime change," he weighed in during the question and answer session. "As the ANC, the masses of our people cannot be stupid to see that there are these opportunists. We understand politics. Even if President Zuma is not there, you can put anyone there, they will not want that leader."
Magashule proffers this as the reason for the party's unwavering support for Zuma.
In response to a question on whether the PEC believes Zuma is fit to govern, despite being found in contravention of the Constitution, Magashule questioned why anyone would question the president's fitness for office, as he is already in his second term.
Speaker of the provincial legislature, Mamiki Qabathe, initially denied that the president had been found in violation of the constitution. However, she later simply stated that the PEC believes the president has never refused to adhere to the recommendations of the Public Protector.
She believes he had simply been awaiting National Treasury to determine how much he should pay back for the work done at Nkandla.
"In the process of waiting for the National Treasury to explain to him those calculations, people ran to court. They ran to the judiciary and then the judiciary came to these conclusions that they came to."
She, however, did not explain the president's March 2014 statement, when he said he would not pay for the upgrades to his homestead, as he had not asked for them. Neither did she mention his comments that the Public Protector's role is "akin to that of an ombud and quite distinct from that of a judge," meaning that they are non-binding recommendations.
Furthermore, none of the PEC members addressed the parallel investigations launched by parliament, which sought to indemnify the president, nor minister Thulas Nxesi's findings that the president could not be held liable for any of the upgrades.
Despite the party leadership throwing its weight behind the president, they have however vowed to take the matter to all it's structures. These will include branches and regions, as well as other interested parties, like the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
This echoes secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe's, undertaking that the party will engage with all its stakeholders in the upcoming week.
They are, however, adamant that the opinions of the opposition and monopoly capital will not be given the time of day.
Earl Coetzee/OFM News
