The ANC have released their official statement on this past weekend’s NEC meeting in Irene. By now, the entire country is aware that certain ANC members put forward a call for President Zuma to be removed or step down.

Now, we have an official statement from the party on what exactly took place. ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe issued the statement and took questions from journalists at Luthuli House.

This is what the ANC had to say on the matter, chances are, it won’t make you very happy…

“There was a call made in the NEC for the President to consider stepping down as President of the Republic. This we considered to be part of a broader discussion characterised by the restlessness manifesting itself in society, where certain sections have made similar calls.

A number of members of the NEC were of the view that the ANC should listen to this call. Various contributions in support of and against the appeal to President to step down were raised. Many more were neither in favor nor against  the appeal but emphasized the need for unity within the organization.”

While “a number of members” may have wanted Zuma to go, it seems the consequences of kicking him out were a problem for the ruling party.

“The NEC sought to have a detailed analysis of the consequences of removing the President; appreciating that some calls, especially those made by the opposition, are not so much about removing the President by rather dislodging the ANC itself from power.

The NEC concluded the matter by recommitting itself to focus on the task at hand and what our people expect from us. Implementing, refining and advancing policies that solve their problems of inequality, poverty and unemployment as we move towards the National Policy Conference.”

Things get even more worrying when you see what the statement says about the upcoming no-confidence motion in Parliament. Secret ballot or not, the ANC has a strong warning for its members.

“Regardless of whether a secret ballot is granted by the court or not, ANC MPs, as always, are expected to vote in line with the decision of the Caucus of the ANC. Failure to do so is in violation of Rule 25.17.16.4 of the ANC Constitution defines an act of misconduct as:

acting on behalf of or in collaboration with:

1. counter-revolutionary forces;

2. a political organisation or party other than an organisation or party in alliance with the ANC in a manner contrary to the aims, policies and objectives of the ANC; “