"I called them and said‚ 'It can't be [like this].' We must respect the higher structure. I spoke to the secretary-general [Gwede Mantashe] and told him that I've already spoken to the comrades and said they had crossed the line and we corrected them‚" said Zuma.
Meanwhile‚ Zuma said that although questions are being asked over the legitimacy of the ANC's KZN leadership following the ruling‚ he was convinced that their structures elected at the 2015 conference were still in charge. He argued that the status quo remained until a decision was taken on whether or not to appeal.
He also denied talk that the PEC will be disbanded.
"I don't know where the issue of disbandment comes in‚" he said. "The NEC has never discussed the issue of any disbandment. It will be premature to talk about that. Let's wait for the NEC. Let's allow the organisation to discuss and come to a decision and then we'll deal with the decision thereafter."