Despite Cyril Ramaphosa’s best efforts to thread unity in his political party, factionalism still triumphs and the latest group to defy the president’s stance on Jacob Zuma’s arrest is the Women’s League.
ANCWL supports ‘Free Jacob Zuma’ calls
Speaking to the media at Thursday’s ‘Free Zuma’ march in eThekwini, Women’s League spokesperson Maboni Chamane revealed that branches in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) were prepared to stand against the contempt conviction handed to Zuma.
“As the ANC Women’s League, we strongly believe that uBab’ uMsholozi must be released from jail. He’s very old. He doesn’t deserve to be in jail, that’ what we are saying,” Chamane told reporters.
As reported by News24, the Women’s League head office in Durban has condemned the actions of branch members and noted that the pro-Zuma march was, in no way, associated with the political wing of the ruling party.
Chamane insisted, however, that the march was sanctioned by ANC branches and the party’s ground forces were prepared to amplify calls for the release of the former president.
From what we understand, members mobilising the march will visit the Women’s League offices in eThekwini in a motorcade. At this time, it remains unclear what their plans are.
“We are coming from the branches. We are from the ground, we are with the people who are on the ground, the branches of ANC in eThekwini are saying uBab’ uMsholozi must be released,” Chamane said.
Zuma makes it out and back into prison without problems
In Nkandla, the former president’s compassionate release from Estcourt prison to attend his late brother funeral caused rumblings. Many spectators who witnessed the violent shutdown riots watched with baited breath as Zuma made it home to honour his duties as a sibling.
The entire affair was heavily guarded by armed SANDF and SAPS officials who may have been tipped about the high risk levels involved in Zuma being out of prison.
However, contrary to what was feared, the former president made it it out and back into prison without causing much trouble for law enforcement who are still hard at work tracking down the figures behind last week’s deadly riots.
“Law enforcement agencies are continuing with their investigations to ensure that instigators and key participants in the unrest are brought to book. There are no new updates on the arrests of the instigators,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday.