ANC KZN says it didn’t see Edward Zuma heckling Gordhan during lecture

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it has not taken action against Edward Zuma for heckling party MP Pravin Gordhan during a memorial lecture in Pietermaritzburg last week because it had not seen the incident.

ANC spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli has told Business Day the party was awaiting a report on the incident before it could decide whether to take action against President Jacob Zuma’s eldest son.

“We did not see this incident. I have spoken to the provincial secretary [Super Zuma], and he said he had also heard about [the incident], and is waiting for a full report on it. After we get a report we will then comment and decide whether follow up action is necessary,” Ntuli reportedly said.

On Friday night, Zuma heckled and interrupted Gordhan while he was delivering the Gandhi Memorial Lecture in Mountain Rise. He called the former finance minister – who was fired on March 30 during the controversial midnight Cabinet reshuffle – a liar, traitor and a stooge of white monopoly capital.

“All what you’re saying, you’re lying. Pravin, you’re lying. You’re telling people lies!” Zuma shouted.

“You sold the country to the white men in Stellenbosch. You sold the country; tell people that you sold the country to Rupert. You must come and meet me in parliament, I will tell you the same thing. I’ve always told you, you’re lying.”

Ntuli said the ANC did not encourage its members to heckle other members of society in public, particularly party members heckling ANC leaders. He said it would create an image of an organisation at war with itself.

The disruption of Gordhan’s speech in Pietermaritzburg was not the first time Zuma had publicly attacked the senior ANC member.

Last month, Zuma had to apologise at the 11th hour for calling Gordhan and former tourism minister Derek Hanekom in an open letter “askaris” (sellouts) and agents of white monopoly capital.

This was after the South African Human Rights Commission launched an investigation against Zuma for inciting racial tension and the provincial ANC threatened to haul him before a disciplinary committee.

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