ANC structures say they will stand firmly behind president

MBOMBELA – The ANC and all its league structures, the youth and women’s leagues in the province have thrown their weight and support behind the country’s president, Mr Jacob Zuma.

This is after numerous calls by opposition parties, children of freedom fighters and other groupings, for Zuma to step down following the recent Constitutional Court ruling.
Addressing the media on Tuesday at the Ehlanzeni District Municipality’s chamber, the ANC provincial chairperson, Mr David Mabuza took some time to carefully unpack what the Constitunional Court judgement entailed.

He said they will also convene branch meetings where they will thoroughly engage with members on the ground so that they also fully understand the whole judgement.
“We need to carefully and thoroughly explain the entire judgement to our branches so that they understand not what the media only chose to publish,” he said.

He went on, “As ANC in the province, we welcome the court’s ruling and we equally welcome the president’s apology.We welcome the court’s ruling that Zuma must pay a portion of the money spent at his residency. If he doesn’t have money, he must request members of the ANC to help him out.”
On Monday the youth league called its own media briefing where it threatened that those who want to march against Zuma would have to go through them first before getting anywhere near him or the Union Buildings.
“The president will not fall, instead he will rise. Remember, Zuma was elected by the branches and not by the opposition and all those people who are making noise. There is no confusion about this, Zuma is not going anywhere,” said Moela.
The court ruled that the president and parliament had acted unconstitutionally when dealing with the much-debated security upgrades at Zuma’s private residence.
After this judgment, he addressed the nation and offered his apology, which was met with anger by a number of groupings including the opposition who called for his head.

This didn’t go down too well with members of the youth league who came out guns blazing, saying they would defend Zuma with their lives.
“Those who are running to the media and some call themselves children of the freedom fighters must actually respect how we do things in the ANC.

They must go to the branches and become active members and build their own credentials and not hide behind their families’ names,” Moela continued.