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S. Africa's ruling ANC distances itself from provocative call

Xinhua, October 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday distanced itself from the call of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) to take up arms to defend President Jacob Zuma.

The ANC views these utterances as "unfortunate, irresponsible and reckless", the party said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

"The freedom, peace and stability we enjoy in South Africa today came at a price," ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

Among those freedoms is the freedom of expression, which does not extend to inflammatory remarks such as those made by the ANCYL President Collen Maine, said Kodwa.

Maine on Saturday called on a former armed wing of the ANC to take up arms in defence of Zuma so as to halt former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela from releasing a draft report on her investigation into "state capture" involving the wealthy Indian Gupta family, which allegedly exerted undue influence on Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers.

Kodwa said current challenges facing South Africa required reasoned, cogent and decisive leadership, not provocative and demagogic talk.

Accordingly, the ANC has instructed Maine to retract these comments, Kodwa said.

Zuma continues to enjoy overwhelming support from the majority of members of the ANC and society at large, he added. Endit