By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) is holding a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, East of Johannesburg.
This marks the first NEC gathering since the decision to establish a Government of National Unity (GNU) following the 29 May elections.
The meeting will focus on the terms of reference of the integrity commission and to finalize all the outstanding cases of integrity that were presented in front of the NEC.
The NEC will also deal with a diagnostic report on the state of the party.
The ANC remains the biggest party despite a staggering loss of support since the last election in 2019 as South Africa struggles with deep poverty and inequality. The country has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world and voters also blamed the ANC for shortages of clean water, electricity, housing and other services.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the NEC will deal with the diagnostic overview of the state of the party.
“We will examine the state of organisation, that’s the beginning of an era. We know, we did not do well in the election and many of our volunteers and comrades fought and participated in the election and campaigned very hard for the ANC to retain power overwhelmingly and we failed.”
Mbalula also said the former president Jacob Zuma remains expelled from the party.
This comes after Zuma on Friday, announced that he would appeal his expulsion from the ANC.
He said, Zuma’s appeal is now with the National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA).
“No, he is expelled. He has appealed exactly within the prescription of the Constitution. So, we are not entertaining that. That matter is with the NDCA, it is dealing with that matter with him, so that is not an issue.”
Mbalula said Zuma is confusing the public by claiming to be a member of two political parties.
“Jacob Zuma is just confusing himself and at the same time the general population.” However, he said Zuma is doing this intentionally.
“He does that because there is a milage he is scoring out of that.”
The ANC expelled Zuma in July 2024 for being part of the formation of the MK party and campaigning for the party towards the elections.
Meanwhile Mbalula said, that there is nothing untoward about what the President said in terms of Russia being South Africa’s ally.
During bilateral discussions with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, president Cyril Ramaphosa referred to Russia as an important ally, where he was leading South Africa’s participation in the XVI Brics Summit.
“DA has a clear policy as a party and for them to implement their policies, they must win an outright majority in this country and govern and govern on their own. The ANC is the largest party and we are leading in relation to the GNU. Throwing tantrums and raising issues, well, of course, is to be expected and we are not fazed by that, said Mbalula.”
The meeting is set to conclude with a visit to Wattville cemetery in Benoni, to honour the legacy of the party’s former president, Oliver Tambo.