MK vets council calls for national and provincial ANC leaders to step down

The UMkhonto weSizwe Military veterans’ council has called for the disbandment of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) and its provincial structures at the party’s national consultative conference later this year.

Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, the former generals of the ruling party’s ex-liberation army said they wanted interim leaders to take over the running of the party until its national elective conference in December.

“The strong sentiment expressed by the council [is] for the NEC to disband at the national consultative conference and for an interim leadership to preside over the provincial disbandment and the appointment of provincial interim leadership committees,” the former generals said.

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On Monday, they had a meeting with the ANC’s top six leaders, where the council’s steering committee presented its resolutions from its December gathering with former soldiers. The gathering was dismissed by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, saying it fell outside of the structures of the party.

Five of the ANC’s top six members reportedly rejected the suggestion for top leaders to step down at the conference, according to reports.

The MK vets have also supported the call by ANC stalwarts for the party to hold the national consultative conference separate from its policy conference due to take place in June. However, the NEC has rejected the proposal and has insisted that the two be held in the same week.

The MK steering committee said its call for national and provincial leaders to step down did not form part of a plan to endorse any individual to take over party reins from President Jacob Zuma.

The veterans also want all Umkhontho weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) activities to be urgently suspended in order for a roll call of former soldiers to be done and an interim committee to be elected.