Durban — Despite the ANC turning down former president Jacob Zuma’s request for his disciplinary hearing to be in person, some of his supporters were expected to flock to Luthuli House, the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Last week, Zuma, now leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), threw down the gauntlet and told the ANC that he wants his disciplinary hearing to be in person and open to the public.
However, the ANC dug in its heels and insisted that the disciplinary hearing be held virtually.
Acting ANC spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi confirmed to the Daily News that the hearing will be virtual.
Some MK regions in Gauteng have planned to flock to the Johannesburg city centre “to paint the town green” in support of Zuma.
Kabelo Nakedi, the MKP sub-regional convener of Greater Randfontein, said: “Yes, we will paint the city centre green (MKP colours), but we will not specifically go to Luthuli House if our leader, former president Jacob Zuma is not there physically.”
The mandate to support Zuma by demonstrating in the city centre, even if he will not appear in person, came from the MKP provincial leadership in Gauteng, he said.
“We will still go to the city centre, but we will not provoke the ANC if our leader (Zuma) is not there in person.”
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili told the Daily News that the police would not leave anything to chance.
“There will be sufficient deployment of members -- including the Public Order Police to monitor the Luthuli House precinct (Johannesburg),” said Muridili.
Had the ANC caved in to Zuma’s request for an in-person hearing, it was expected that the scores of his supporters, including from KwaZulu-Natal, MKP’s strongest terrain, would have trekked to Luthuli House, which could have potentially triggered tensions between them and the ANC, which has jealously guarded its headquarters.
Zuma’s representative, veteran ANC member Tony Yengeni, appeared before the disciplinary committee on behalf of Zuma last Wednesday. The matter was postponed to Tuesday.
Zuma raised the ire of the ANC in December when he publicly endorsed the MKP and vowed to campaign for it to topple the ruling party from the political throne it had occupied since the first democratic elections in 1994.
Zuma faces two charges, one for collaborating with another political organisation (MKP) and the second for joining another political party not aligned with the ANC.
Zuma was unceremoniously suspended by the ANC, a party he led as president from 2007 to 2017, stemming from the charges he faces.
Initially, Zuma was expected to appear before the eight-member disciplinary committee in May but it was pushed back by the ANC amid fears of violence as he was to appear in person.
If Zuma is found guilty by the committee, manned by, among others, his long-time loyal backer in the ANC Faith Muthambi, Zuma will be given 14 days to appeal if the sanction is against him.
All eyes are now on the disciplinary committee to see if it expels Zuma or retains him in the ANC fold.
Among notable Zuma’s allies who have been expelled by the ANC is former party secretary-general Ace Magashule, who was axed in June last year.
Magashule’s expulsion related to his alleged involvement in the R250 million asbestos tender issued in 2015 while he was still premier of the Free State.
He is now the leader of the African Congress for Transformation.
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