Cele's Clarion Call: ANC Must "Bury" Zuma's Influence and Move Forward

In an emotionally charged political climate, Police Minister Bheki Cele has called on loyalists of the African National Congress (ANC) to sever ties with the party's former figurehead, Jacob Zuma. Addressing the audience during a poignant lecture in eThekwini hosted by the ANC, Cele underscored the necessity for the party to release itself from the grasp of its previous leader.

The tension mounted when Jacob Zuma publicly announced his intention to support the uMkhonto weSizwe party against the ANC as led by current President Cyril Ramaphosa. This bold move has cast a long shadow on the party's unity, inciting significant controversy amongst its members.

Bheki Mtolo, the ANC KZN provincial secretary, echoed the sentiments of senior ANC figures such as Fikile Mbalula and Gwede Mantashe, acknowledging that Zuma had effectively “expelled himself” from the party. Despite this, the ANC has resolved to postpone any formal actions against Zuma until after the upcoming elections.

The address by Cele, often referred to as the "funeral of Zuma," not only reiterated the end of the ex-president's era within the party but also challenged Zuma to divulge the secrets he had long threatened to reveal. It was during this address that Cele minced no words, branding Zuma an “intellectual dwarf” while reminding the audience of other leaders like Robert Sobukwe who had previously departed from the ANC.

Other ANC heavyweights such as former KZN Premiers Sbu Ndebele, Senzo Mchunu, and Sihle Zikalala criticized Zuma for his divisive actions, suggesting that they betray the founding principles of the ANC and stem from personal animosity toward President Ramaphosa.

Moreover, Cele shed light on a previous encounter with Zuma at his Nkandla residence in 2021. This gathering, while raising eyebrows within the Democratic Alliance for its perceived inappropriateness, was sanctioned by the late Jessie Duarte, the then deputy secretary-general of the ANC. During their three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Cele expressed gratitude for Zuma's role in mitigating political violence, highlighting KZN's turbulent history marked by confrontations between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

Yet, the aftermath of Zuma's 2021 incarceration for contempt of court was a stark reminder of the potential for unrest, leading to deadly riots and extensive economic damage across KZN and Gauteng. Cele, voicing his concerns regarding the threat of violence, encouraged ANC supporters to avoid being stirred by provocations, emphasizing the imperative to safeguard the ANC itself, rather than any individual within it.

In conclusion, Cele's impassioned plea to ANC followers to "let him [Zuma] go" is a testament to the party's determination to pivot away from a tumultuous past and forge a united path forward.