CAPE TOWN - A leaked sound clip of ANC Treasurer General Paul Mashatile, speaking at the 2018 Mining Indaba, has some damning implications for President Jacob Zuma.
Mashatile began his speech at the Mining Indaba by reminding people of the new leadership within the ANC. He said that those who wanted Cyril Ramaphosa as the leader got their wish. Mashatile said 2018 will be a very exciting time for South Africa.
The Treasurer General wanted to make it very clear that the ANC's top 6 main role is to perpetuate good governance, especially after the Zuma era, which has been riddled with allegations of State Capture, corruption, and mismanagement.
Mashatile said the new leadership undoubtedly supported the inquiry into state capture, adding that it was the new leadership that went to Zuma and called for specific names to be interviewed at the State Capture inquiry.
Mashatile made it very clear that sorting out state enterprises, government enterprises and proliferating economic recovery is a top priority for the new ANC.
He shared that even President Zuma had asked about "managing the transition" within the ANC. "For President, Zuma transition is a "strange word that you guys (new ANC leadership) have just coined," Mashatile said.
Adding that he had to explain to Zuma that transition meant handing over power from him (Zuma) to Cyril.
Mashatile says he further explained to Zuma that the ANC leadership did not want to have two centres of power, which is why it is important that Ramaphosa take over, not only as the leader of the ANC, but also the affairs of the state.
"The top 6 believes the sooner Zuma steps down the better it will be for South Africa, and that this will allow for certainty in policy and direction especially for investors", he said.
Zuma has reportedly refused to resign despite attempts by the top 6 tried to persuade him to step down.
Mashatile said the top 6 were resigned to the fact that Zuma should be recalled in the same manner Former President Mbeki was. But what shocked attendees was Mashatile's revelation that Zuma would be recalled tonight (Thursday).
He noted that the ANC has a party to run and with new elections on the way, the Zuma impeachment possibility is not something the new ANC wants to deal with.
"The ANC does not want to be in motions of no confidence and impeachments, Zuma may be prepared to deal with that but the NEC will not deal with that. That is why SONA was postponed," Mashatile said.
LISTEN TO THE CLIP BELOW
-BUSINESS REPORT ONLINE
