ANC’s top brass mull judgment

The ANC’s top six leaders yesterday held an urgent meeting at Luthuli House to discuss the outcomes and implications of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Nkandla. 

The judgment, delivered by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, directly implicates two of the six ANC national leaders.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe confirmed that the top six would decide what would happen next.

The six are party president Jacob Zuma‚ deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa‚ chairwoman Baleka Mbete‚ Mantashe‚ deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte and treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize.

The ANC is not saying much‚ save for the fact that they are still studying the judgment.

“The ANC once again reaffirms our full confidence in the judiciary and upholding the rule of law in South Africa. Given the serious nature of the judgment delivered‚ the African National Congress will study it in detail and comment further in due course‚” the party said in a statement.

ANC alliance partners the SACP and Cosatu‚ the government and the presidency all took the same line‚ saying they had noted the judgment and would comment at a later stage.

While the top six are expected to come up with how the party deals with the judgment‚ it cannot make decisions without the ratification of its highest decision-making body besides its national conference‚ the national executive committee.

Mantashe did not rule out the possibility of the top six calling a special NEC meeting to consider the Nkandla judgment.

EFF leader Julius Malema has meanwhile called for an early election.

“We must persuade parliament to dissolve. They have failed to uphold the Constitution.

“We have to go there and fight those battles there and remind parliament‚ remember you are an illegitimate body‚” he said.

“Parliament has failed this democracy. The executive has failed this democracy‚ Zuma is the head of the executive.

“ SA‚ why do you want to continue with these failed institutions?”

Malema said the EFF would employ two strategies – one inside parliament and another with the masses on the ground.

He vowed not to allow Zuma ever to speak in parliament again.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said if he were Zuma he “would be preparing letter of resignation”.

The DA said it had “officially begun the process to impeach President Jacob Zuma”.

“This pivotal judgment confirms the DA’s long-held contention that President Zuma seriously violated the Constitution when he sought to undermine the public protector’s remedial actions by instituting parallel investigative processes‚ and his subsequent failure to implement her action‚” said Maimane.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) welcomed the Concourt ruling, saying the decision vindicated the position the party had consistently taken – that Zuma must pay back a portion of the money spent on non-security upgrades at his homestead.

“The ACDP is delighted that our judiciary is ... independent and not influenced by the president or the ruling party.”