Lungani Zungu
The ANC National Working Committee (NWC) has dismantled the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), the party wing that had turned into former President Jacob Zuma’s personal army.
Acting secretary-general Jessie Duarte informed the ex-combatants of the decision in a letter dated 6 June.
MKMVA President Kebby Maphatsoe is furious. “This is a blatantly factional decision,” he told Scrolla.Africa on Tuesday.
He said the leadership of MKMVA would meet with ANC national leaders.
Zuma’s close ally and former finance minister Des van Rooyen, who was the disbanded structure’s treasurer-general, was asked for comment but he refused.
Carl Niehaus, Zuma’s loudest praise singer, was the structure’s spokesperson and also works at the suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s office in Luthuli House.
When Zuma defied the ConCourt order telling him to appear at the state capture commission in January, MKMVA members rushed to his Nkandla home to “fight” against his arrest.
Even now, a small group of MKMVA members are still outside Zuma’s house.
When the former president appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High last month over his Arms Deal charges, MKMVA was there to support him.
The move to disband the structure is another sign that the ANC’s power balance is well and truly weighted towards President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa announced in May that the structure will be disbanded.
MKMVA veterans dared the president to disband them, but all their threats appeared not to have derailed Ramaphosa’s plan.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe could not be reached for comment.
Image source: @niehaus_carl
