South Africa’s Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has said she is eligible to contest the presidency despite disciplinary proceedings by her party.
The ANC has instituted disciplinary proceedings against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma after she voted with the opposition for the adoption of a panel report that could have seen President Cyril Ramaphosa impeached over the Phala Phala farm robbery.
In a statement seen by Pindula News, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who is an ANC MP said the proceedings to not affect her bid to contest for the presidency. She wrote:
Good morning Comrades, I wish to assure you that the communication I received from the acting SG of the ANC does not affect my ability to stand. If nominated by branches of the ANC, I am still allowed stand for nomination and I will avail myself. Malibongwe!
Dlamini-Zuma and other ANC MPs Mervyn Dirks, former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and former minister and Gupta ally Mosebenzi Zwane, voted for the adoption of the report by an independent panel chaired by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo.
The panel found that Ramaphosa may have a case to answer over the theft of at least $580,000 at his Phala Phala farm in 2020.
ANC MPs followed the party line at the special sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday, voting to quash the report. Ramaphosa has taken the report on judicial review.
In a letter to Dlamini-Zuma, dated December 14, acting ANC secretary-general Paul Mashatile said the national officials received a report from party chief whip Pemmy Majodina regarding the outcome of the parliamentary vote on Tuesday. Said Mashatile:
According to the report you voted, together with a number of opposition parties, and contrary to the position of the NEC [national executive committee], and the ANC caucus, for adoption of the report.
The national officials, having consider the report of the chief whip … decided to exercise the power in rule 25.9 to invoke disciplinary proceedings under the ANC constitution and therefore to initiate disciplinary proceedings against you. Accordingly, the chief national presenter has been requested to take the necessary steps to institute disciplinary proceedings.
The ANC has been accused of double standards after dragging Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma before disciplinary authorities while former MP Derek Hanekom was never taken to task when he agreed with the EFF that former president Jacob Zuma should step down as president.