By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
Former president Thabo Mbeki has told ANC supporters in Soweto that the party is not scared to expel Jacob Zuma from its ranks.
Zuma is contesting the elections as the leader of the Umkhonto Wesizwe party but has not yet resigned as an ANC member.
The top leadership of the party has suspended Zuma pending a disciplinary hearing.
Faced with criticism for being indecisive and too scared to expel the rebellious former president, Mbeki said the ruling party was following its constitution’s guidelines on how to terminate the membership of any ANC member.
“It is necessary for the ANC itself to respect that constitution so that it doesn’t behave in a lawless manner in terms of its own laws.
“And therefore the decision to take is to take him to the disciplinary committee and so on.
“It’s not cowardice, I think that loyalty to its own constitution is important in the same way that we must be loyal to the national constitution,” said Mbeki.
During his campaign at Jabulani Mall in Soweto on Thursday, Mbeki called on the township’s residents to vote for the ANC, adding that the party’s elders were helping to fix the ANC and rid it of corrupt people.
“People of Soweto, I am here to plead with you that on the 29th of May, you know what to do: vote for the ANC.
“As for me, I only know of one party, I don’t know the others.
“I know you are unhappy about our party. That inside our party now we have the wrong people. Even thieving criminals are now wearing ANC T-shirts.
“I am promising that we will fix the ANC itself so it can deliver services to the people,” said Mbeki.
The ANC has announced plans to bring out former president Kgalema Motlanthe, and former deputy presidents Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Baleka Mbethe and DD Mabuza to lead various campaigns across the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will start his Free State campaign on Friday.
Pictured above: Former president Thabo Mbeki takes the ANC campaign trail to Soweto.
Source: X
