Gungubele: Why doesn’t Zuma distance himself from BLF?

ANC MP Mondli Gungubele gave Justice Malala on eNCA a number of his reasons for why he would still be voting against President Jacob Zuma in the upcoming vote of no confidence in parliament.

Among those reasons is the president’s questionable relationship with Andile Mngxitama’s Black First Land First (BLF) movement, which Gungubele described as a “vigilante group”.

He also cited the Gupta Leaks, as a “lot of information that obligated [the ANC] to call the president to account. But the organisation is not doing that. And yet that very situation undermines … the ANC.”

Gungubele spoke out against the idea that disciplining people such as himself and Dr Makhosi Khoza had any merit, calling it “little shows”.

He cited the ANC’s constitution as the reason he felt Zuma was fulfilling the criteria for “causing disrepute” for the governing party. One clause he referred to obligates ANC members not to have questionable relationships.

“Our president openly and publicly accepted that the Guptas are his friends.”

Gungubele added that the Guptas were “the main factor” for why the ANC is now divided.

He also offered another example in the form of the BLF, “which I see as a vigilante group, by the way … go and attack journalists … and they say they are doing it to defend our president.”

Giving a little laugh, he said: “And our president doesn’t distance himself from that. And the president doesn’t distance himself from the activities of Guptas.

“In that context, it’s difficult for me to have confidence in the president.”

The ANC’s chief whip in parliament has called for disciplinary action to be taken against Gungubele for his “ill-discipline”.

Gungubele has responded that being a parliamentarian carries a greater role than mere loyalty to any party, as MPs must be guided by the constitution of the republic, which supersedes party politics.