Limpopo churches join the call for Zuma to resign
Members of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) in Limpopo have joined other role players asking for president Jacob Zuma to resign
POLOKWANE – SACC will hold a prayer meeting at the Anglican Cathedral Church in Polokwane tomorrow (Thursday) to pray for Zuma to resign.
Limpopo SACC general secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, said ANC officials faced mounting pressure.
“They need to understand that this is not an easy call to make. We are feeling the pain within the ANC as they are wrestling with the issue.”
Many of the church’s congregation members were ANC members, he said, adding as a church they understood the conflict in the situation.
Representatives of the church met with ANC officials in Gauteng last week.
“The ANC was unable to respond directly to our request of the party ‘assisting’ Zuma to step down voluntary instead of being ‘forced,'” he said.
No reason to recall Zuma
ANC Limpopo spokesperson, Aluwani Netsianda, said even though the party respected the SACC’s right to assemble and voice their freedom of expression, there was no reason to recall Zuma.
He said the ANC would meet with the SACC after their march and engage with them.
Out of our own discussions, a decision was made to not recall the president. There is no branch of the ANC in Limpopo that convened a meeting to discuss a possible recalling. We heard it as a rumour and a call of individuals who don’t have the mandate from their branches.
The ANC takes the responsibility of deploying and recalling deployees based on what is best for the organisation, according to Netsianda, and not to advance the interests and agenda of others.
“In line with the decision of the extended National Working Committee, we will embark on a programme to consult with our structures, alliance partners, civil society structures and faith-led structures.”
He said in this regard, the ANC was aware of certain media reports alleging that the Cuito Cuanavale branch (Ward 20) in Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba region had resolved to support calls for the resignation or to recall the president.
“We wish to clarify that neither the branch executive committee or branch general meeting met to discuss the Constitutional Court ruling,” he said.
As part of the consultative process on the ruling, the province will undertake a programme to ensure all regions convene to deliberate the judgement, with the input of the Provincial Executive Committee and National Executive Committee representatives.
