‘ANC needs plan to get them talking’ – Mbalula wants to solve issues between Zuma and Ramaphosa

The ANC’s newly elected secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said there will be no “lawlessness” in the party under his watch.

He said members may differ, “but there must be decorum”.

Mbalula said he’ll have no choice but to deal with the matter decisively if ANC members insult each other on public platforms.

Zuma’s legal spat with Ramaphosa

Mbalula said part of his role as the secretary-general will be to try and get former president Jacob Zuma and the country’s current leader Cyril Ramaphosa to talk.

“We should be able to engage if there are issues,” he said.

While Mbalula said the ANC can’t get involved in the legal process between Zuma and Ramaphosa, it can engage in the political process.

“I’ve worked on a plan to get the two talking and we need to get that going. We need decorum, we need engagement and we need to understand each other.”

On the eve of the ANC’s 55th national elective conference, Zuma instituted a private prosecution against Ramaphosa in the former presidnet’s bid to have the National Prosecuting Authority‘s (NPA) lead prosecutor, Advocate Billy Downer, removed from the arms deal corruption trial.

Ramaphosa gave Zuma until Monday to withdraw the private prosecution.

Zuma’s foundation, however, on Monday said the case will not be withdrawn.  

“H.E President Zuma is not withdrawing the criminal case against President Ramaphosa. The case is set down for 19th January 2023. Prez Zuma is not going to litigate through letters and media,” said the foundation on Monday evening.

ALSO READ: Zuma becoming a wrecking ball now, says Blade Nzimande

‘No more public attacks of the president’

Mbalula also said NEC members will no longer be allowed to attack Ramaphosa publicly.

“When you insult Ramaphosa, you insult the ANC.”

Watch: Ramaphosa’s reaction after he was re-elected ANC president

WATCH: Ramaphosa's reaction after he was re-elected ANC president for a second term, beating Zweli Mkhize by a very large margin. @GetrudeM
#ANCelectiveconference #ANCElects2022 #ANC55Conference pic.twitter.com/5UM7zgeK26

— The Citizen News (@TheCitizen_News) December 19, 2022

He aims to instil more discipline in the party.

“The ANC has been conducting its business not like a well-organised machine,” he said. “You’ve got NEC members contradicting themselves in public.”

He said this ill-discipline will not happen under his “authority”.

“There will be no lawlessness in the ANC. Those who want to continue with those shenanigans, they must be ready for me.”

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He added that he is the commander of the ANC and he must lead from the front.

“So, no more tweeting at midnight from me,” he said.

“It looks like my Twitter account must close down; it’s going to be boring.”

Impeachment

Mbalula also weighed in on the recent vote in the National Assembly on whether to go ahead with impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa.

“There is no self-respecting political party that will go to parliament and vote to impeach its own president,” he said. “That decision can only be taken by the African National Congress.”

He said if members want to vote against the ANC, they must start their own political party.

This comes after several ANC members, including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Supra Mahumapelo, Mervyn Dirks and Mosebenzi Zwane, voted in favour of going ahead with the impeachment process against Ramaphosa.

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