Ntuli to continue supporting Zuma despite booing
By ANDILE MOSHOESHOE
KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary, Mdumiseni Ntuli has alleged that the party’s supporters who booed him and provincial chairperson, Sihle Zikalala during former president Jacob Zuma last court appearance were from the province.
Ntuli made it clear that he would still go again when Zuma makes an appearance at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday.
“If they were from our province, they would further come to us and explain the booing. It is how ANC works, members don’t boo their leaders and take a back seat,” he said.
He said this when closing a media briefing where they were outlining outcomes of the Provincial Executive Committee in relation to the controversial step-aside rule. The rule saw three ANC members, out of 13, including the former eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede, Zoe Shabalala and Thembekile De Lange dodging an axe that was flying straight to their heads.
Instead, Ntuli shifted blame on state organs especially the justice sector (NPA), doubting the way of managing cases involving their members.
“Our members were charged with no indictment served to them and their cases are in circles. The Provincial Integrity Commission was satisfied with the information they provided as they are intending to plead not guilty,” Ntuli said.
He added the trio were further not in breach of the party’s constitutional rule 25.7.4. He further stated that they want the NEC to finalise the national framework and guidelines on how the reports of the commission should be handled on corruption-accused members stepping aside should be implemented.
Ntuli admitted that it was correct to say there was an inconsistency in the way the national integrity commission had handled ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s matter and the way the provincial integrity commission had dealt with Gumede and her co-accused’s matter, which necessitated the framework and guidelines.
