The ANC has discouraged various members of civil society from speaking out against the ruling party‚ saying it is hurting and damaging the image of the party.Responding to calls by ANC veterans‚ church and civil society organisations and business leaders for President Jacob Zuma to step down following the Constitutional Court judgment‚ ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa urged everyone to respect the party’s processes.Speaker to consider request for retired judges to probe Zuma’s conductOn Tuesday‚ the Gauteng provincial executive committee broke ranks and urged Zuma to “do the right thing”.Maimane: Hansard excerpts a strong prima facie case that Zuma misled ParlyAt a press conference earlier on Wednesday‚ to discuss the ANC’s programme of events leading up to Saturday’s manifesto launch at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium‚ Kodwa said the party had to focus on unity.“We will continue to discourage members of the ANC - regardless of their position in society - that whatever views they have about the organisation‚ it’s not in the organisation’s interest to see and hear members of the organisation speaking out about the organisation.“It’s hurting the organisation‚ it damages the image of the organisation.“I think it’s best‚ whether it’s veterans‚ whether it’s PECs‚ it doesn’t strengthen the ANC.“We hope that going forward‚ all our comrades will appreciate that at some point that there are things that we should do in order that we strengthen unity in the ANC‚” Kodwa said.Nomvula Mokonyane‚ ANC national executive committee member and head of elections‚ agreed‚ saying they could not operate like headless chickens.“We have a view and there is going to be a NEC meeting in May and we hope that will actually bring this matter to finality.“We urge South Africans and we urge everybody to respect the internal processes that the ANC is dealing with.“We are also urging our own members that the energy of people convening meetings and doing things‚ it must be about maximising unity of the ANC. Focusing on the agenda of the ANC‚ rather than focused on who says what against each other.“The ANC operates on the basis of democratic centralism‚ self-correction of the movement.”ANC Mandela Bay branches are meeting with deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte at 4pm on Wednesday to discuss the Constitutional Court judgement.Meanwhile‚ Zuma is expected in Mandela Bay on Thursday.A report on the party’s readiness for the manifesto launch will be delivered by secretary-general Gwede Mantashe at a press conference on Friday.About 110‚000 ANC supporters are expected to attend Saturday’s event...