Former president Jacob Zuma will on Wednesday be represented by his all time ally and comrade Tony Yengeni at his disciplinary hearing.
The party’s spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said in accordance to the ANC’s rule 25 of the constitution, Zuma was entitled to be represented by any member of the party should he choose.
“In this regard, and in line with these provisions, President Zuma will be represented by a long-standing Struggle veteran, former ANC NEC member and Commander of uMkhonto weSizwe comrade Tony Yengeni.
President Zuma believes that commander Tony Yengeni is well placed as a seasoned Commander of uMkhonto weSizwe to represent him in the kangaroo court convened against him by the sellout ANC of Ramaphosa, Steenhuisen and Groenewald,” Ndhlela said.
The party’s spokesperson said even though the former president was available to attend an online meeting, he had requested to attend the disciplinary meeting in person, but he was, however, not being replied to.
“uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) confirms that the disciplinary hearing of President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as a member of the real African National Congress (ANC) will sit tomorrow 17 July 2024.
“The ANC Disciplinary Committee has not yet responded to a request made by President Zuma’s lawyers that the hearing should be take place at a physical venue, and in person as previously agreed between the parties per the relevant provisions of the ANC’s Constitution.
“We should further reflect on the fact that the same DC representatives had previously confirmed President Zuma’s attendance at Luthuli House for the kangaroo court to be attended in person, but suddenly decided at a whim to postpone the in person hearing amid a pre-election climate because of so called fictitious security fears expressed by the ANC of Ramaphosa to be held at the venue decided by them,” Ndhlela added.
Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union’s (NEHAWU) national political school sitting at the Birchwood Conference Centre on Tuesday, ANC’s Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula confirmed that the disciplinary hearing was forging ahead.
“The disciplinary committee is doing its job and this week it will deal with the matter that involves Jacob Zuma and that it is, so we are looking forward to that,” added Mbalula.
He also blamed Zuma’s for the party’s dismissal performance in the past May 29 elections.
Mbalula said they warned that Zuma was putting the organisation in precarious situation by contesting the elections against the movement.
“Others have taken more than two million votes from us and they say we are selling out. We told them that they were putting the revolution in a precarious situation and we don’t understand why they were doing it.”
Meanwhile, South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Solly Mapaila said his own history was tarnished by Zuma for deciding to use MK name to contest the elections.
The party has charged Zuma with contravening the ANC rules, including contravening the party’s constitution.
The charges relate to Zuma’s decision to support and be the face of the uMkhonto weSizwe party for the May elections.
According to the movement, Zuma violated rule 25 of the ANC's constitution by showing support for another political party.
In this case, Zuma formed the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party in December last year in Soweto, claiming that he was rescuing the ANC.
MKP is now the third largest party with 14.58% nationally after the electoral results were announced in May.
It has 58 seats in the National Assembly and 37 seats in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial legislature with 45.35%.
The Star