Mantashe: Removing Zuma will tear ANC apart
African National Congress (ANC) General Secretary Gwede Mantashe says removing President Jacob Zuma now would lead to a split in the ruling party.
Mantashe was addressing the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) General Committee in Pretoria.
“It will plunge the ANC into deeper chaos and the structures of the movement will be divided in many regions. If we do this, we will split KZN in two immediately. You also know that in the North West there will be chaos and the Free State will be a disaster.
“We must not be adventurers in dealing with this issue,” Mantashe warns.
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He says the ANC has already discussed Zuma’s possible removal.
“We analysed this. In November there was discussion about this matter and we all came to the conclusion that we cannot do this, we will only have instant satisfaction and happiness, but it will take us much longer to pick up the pieces of the movement".
Speaking ahead of Mantashe, NUM President Piet Matosa reiterated the call for President Zuma to step down.
He says the organisation will support Deputy President Cyril Ramphosa in his quest to succeed Zuma as ANC leader.