ANC top six divided over exit as Duarte and Magashule back Zuma

The fate of President Jacob Zuma appears to have caused a division among the ANC top six leaders as they are currently in disagreement over his exit, reports Sowetan.

The six leaders who are responsible for Zuma’s exit from power include ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa, deputy president David Mabuza, secretary general Ace Magashule, deputy secretary-general Jesse Duarte, chairperson Gwede Mantashe and provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile.

Ramaphosa believes Zuma’s exit should be handled in a cautious manner due to the president being anxious about his future.

Speaking to the BBC in Davos, Switzerland, Ramaphosa said: “Obviously he’s anxious. Any normal human being would be concerned about this. He wants matters to be handled carefully. My key interest is to move the country forward, rather than what happens to one individual. We’re handling state capture and going after the corrupt elements.”

However, his comments have not been received well by Magashule and Duarte, who have mobilised against Ramaphosa.

According to Magasule, those wanting Zuma to leave office early are “factional and populist”.

“There was no national executive committee decision taken to recall President Jacob Zuma. It’s only factional leaders who want to be populist who want him gone,” Magashule said to applause from a large crowd at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.

Joining Magashule as a backer of the president, Duarte spoke to City Press and declared that Zuma was not going anywhere. On the other hand, Mabuza, Mantashe and Mashatile all stand firmly behind Ramaphosa.

It is alleged that the group of Zuma loyalists are striving to win back the support of KwaZulu Natal, Free State and Gauteng, after which they will attempt to either remove or suspend Ramaphosa from his position.

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