No need to act against Zuma, says ANC top brass

File photo: ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe. Picture: David Ritchie

File photo: ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe. Picture: David Ritchie

Published Apr 1, 2016

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Johannesburg - The ANC’s top leaders have come out to bat for President Jacob Zuma following the Constitutional Court finding that he had breached the Constitution earlier this week.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said in a live television address on Friday night that Zuma was correct to apologise over the matter and did not believe any drastic action was needed against him.

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While Zuma would abide by 11 rulings made by the court, including that he pay back money for upgrades to his Nkandla homestead, the ANC’s top leaders did not believe the judgment warranted his impeachment.

“There is an over reaction from opposition parties,” he told reporters.

The press conference followed a live television address by Zuma earlier on Friday where he unreservedly welcomed the judgment that found that he and the National Assembly had failed in their duty to uphold the country’s Constitution.

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He said that he respected the judgment and would abide by its ruling. This included that he pay back money for upgrades to his homestead that were not for security purposes.

“I have consistently stated that I’ll pay the amount… to the upgrades once this had been determined by the correct authority,” he said.

Mantashe described the judgment as a “victory for our young democracy” and showed that the right systems were in place.

The ANC’s top six, which includes Zuma, Mantashe, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, deputy general secretary Jessie Duarte, and treasurer Zweli Mkhize, deliberated extensively on the matter.

The party’s national working committee will hold an extended meeting on Monday and Mantashe has invited the ANC’s national executive committee members to attend.

On Tuesday the party’s leaders will meet the ANC caucus in Parliament which was also found to have failed in its duty of oversight.

Something drastic must happen, we can't be threated like fools. .. #ConCourtJudgement

— Malusi Booi (@MalusiBooi) April 1, 2016

Fam... Gweezy once stood on the podium and called a swimming pool a fire pool... Why nikwata at his response? #ConCourtJudgement😔😏

— Gabi Mbele (@TheGabi) April 1, 2016

Is numbness to accountability the cancer of the-so-called "Congress" parties on the African continent? #ConCourtJudgement #ZumaReaction

— J-Tagg Tsiame (@1JTagg) April 1, 2016

Labour Bureau

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