At the time of writing this piece President Jacob Zuma had, ahead of the ANC 53rd national conference received an overwhelming vote of confidence from six provinces and two of the party's leagues leagues i.e Women and Veterans. This was the case notwithstanding a sustained and protracted campaign against Zuma within and outside the organisation.
Some within the ANC even found common consort with the DA in an attempt to oust Zuma from the Presidency of both the party and the republic.
The relentless attacks on President Zuma are reminiscent of the "Zuma-gevaar" campaign of lies and slander in the build up to the 2007 ANC Polokwane conference. As history attests today, Zuma was favoured with an overwhelming vote of confidence by the structures of the ANC. He became President of the party, and later of the country too.
No sooner had the Polokwane dust settled that calls were made for the removal of the ANC secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe. The call for President Zuma's head followed soon hereafter as opportunism's menacing shadow loomed large over the organisation.
Since the advent of the anti-Zuma/Mantashe crusade, the ANC and the country have not known respite as much time, energy and resources were invested in dousing fires ignited by arsonists who sought to liquidate the ANC and hijack the National Democratic Revolution.
As it was the case in Polokwane in 2007, the build up to Mangaung sees President Zuma's detractors trying to undermine the intelligence and strength of ANC branches.They sought to to impose their wishful thinking on branches ahead of nominations for the 53rd national conference.
As things stand now, the impositions on branches have been roundly rejected. President Jacob Zuma is now destined to be retained as the ANC president.
President Zuma is the best that we have to steer the ANC through the current turbulence as imposed by those whose interests are limited to capturing the organisation and converting it into a pirate ship used to loot and pillage the resources of the country.
Zuma and the post-Mangaung collective will depart the 53rd conference fully concious of the burden of taking the organisation through a healing and rebuilding process.
Zuma is no super ANC member. He is a member like all of us who have taken membership of the organisation. He is part of a leadership collective and in the discharge of his duties, he accounts to the collective and the general membership.
Any attempts to isolate President Zuma and apportion all faults and failures to him alone, are the height of opportunism.
Beyond Mangaung the people of South Africa, in the ANC and outside, must rise to the challenge of being patriots and work tirelessly to make a resounding success of this beautiful country.
Hurling insults at, and villifying the person of President Zuma serves only to highlight the intellectual bankruptcy of those responsible.
President Zuma has it, and more, to take the people of South Africa to the Promised Land - through a strong and united ANC obviously.
Twitter: @molebi
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