Mkhize denies plot to oust Zuma

KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairman, Zweli Mkhize has reacted angrily to reports that he and other senior ruling party leaders were plotting to oust President Jacob Zuma.

“It is a blue lie. There is no such a plot. It is the work of information paddlers and they must stop that,” said Mkhize.

He was addressing scores of African National Congress (ANC) supporters during a manifesto launch for the eThekwini region in Adams, outside Amanzimtoti.

The Sunday Independent on Sunday reported that it had seen a 22 page document that allegedly emanated from a covert intelligence investigation into national Commissioner Bheki Cele.

The document also claimed that Cele had dumped Zuma in favour of the future leadership of human settlement Minister Takyo Sexwale, it was reported.

The newspaper reported that Sexwale led a group that wanted to oust Zuma during the ANC elective conference next year.

The group included among other Mkhize, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, ANC national treasurer Mathews Phosa, ANC national executive members Fikile Mbalula, Jeff Radebe, Paul Mashatile, David Mabuza, cassel Mathale, Thandi Modise, Enoch Godongwana, Bathabile Dlamini and Tony Yengeni.

Mkhize said he wished people who authored the document could be investigated, saying that they abused their power.

There was no way he could be involved in a plot to oust Zuma after having worked many years to have him elected to the ruling party’s top post, he said.

“There is no way we could plot to remove Zuma. We worked hard for him to be there,” Mkhize said.

Mkhize was one of the ANC leaders who campaigned fiercely for Zuma to become ANC president.

They even supported him when he faced rape and corruption charges.

He said it would not be easy to remove Zuma because he was elected by scores of people.

The newspaper also reported that the anti-Zuma group met in Escort on January 23, where it plotted to oust him.

Mkhize denied there was such a meeting.

“We were in Escort to talk about the January 8 statement. The gathering was attended by many people,” said Mkhize.

Discussions on the issue of leadership in the ANC has not started, he said.

Lobbying ahead of the last ANC elective conference was so intense such that some members of the faction that lost ended up forming the breakaway party, Congress of the People (Cope).