The ANC will investigate and take disciplinary action against its members who were seen inciting violence, defying Covid-19 regulations and burning party regalia outside former president Jacob Zuma’s homestead.
Briefing media on Tuesday morning on the outcomes on a special national executive committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said the committee conceded that the gathering in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, emanated from within party factions and that it was a “populist attempts by some to use retrogressive and opportunistic ethnic mobilisation for their own opportunistic objectives…does not represent a popular uprising, but has been engineered from within the ranks of the ANC”.
The meeting follows the Constitutional Court ruling last week to imprison Zuma for 15 months for contempt of court.
Since then, his supporters, including the MKMVA and amabutho (Zulu warriors), have been gathering outside his house to prevent police from arresting him.
Many were seen breaking lockdown regulations by not wearing mask. Others discharging firearms in the presence of police.
Duarte said the ANC was committed to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and that they will also engage Zuma about his legal woes and their impact to the party.
Some of the NEC resolutions include reasserting its fundamental commitment to the renewal of the party with the aim of re-asserting our historical values including revolutionary morality, and disciplined and selfless service to people.
Duarte said party will also reaffirm its support to the leadership in KZN.
“We will reinforce the KZN PEC (provincial executive committe) by strengthening the team of NEC deployees to the province. Ratify the NWC (national working committee) decision for the immediate disbandment of MKMVA and the MK Council, and confirm the establishment of the MK Veterans Unity Conference Preparatory Committee and the 60th Anniversary Committee.
"[We] state unequivocally that the actions of sections of MKMVA, in the year that we are due to celebrate 60 years of Umkhonto we Sizwe which as a liberation army prided itself on its discipline, is a shameful blight on this proud history. The threat of violence aimed at undermining our democracy and its core institutions is counter-revolutionary, akin to similar displays and acts by extreme right-wing elements,” said Duarte.
She said the secretary general’s office and provincial secretary will urgently investigate and initiate disciplinary action against the organisers responsible for the incitement of violence and defiance of lockdown regulations.
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