PRETORIA, The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal has thrown its weight behind President Jacob Zuma in light of last week’s Constitutional Court judgement on his Nkandla private residence saga.

Party provincial chair Sihle Zikalala made the announcement during a voter registration rally in Mandeni, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it stands by President Zuma.

This after the constitutional court ruled that he failed to uphold the Constitution. Some party elders have called on the President to step down.

KwaZulu-Natal has always been Zuma’s strongest support base. The party was in Mandeni to encourage voters to register.

A month ago the community revolted against the ANC burning property including eight factories demanding the removal of a local PR Councillor. Zikalala says those who thought that the ANC was finished in Mandeni thought wrong.

Some of the workers employed in the burnt factories have not resumed duties but Zikalala promised them that government will ensure that they have their jobs back.

Meanwhile, unity seems to have prevailed within the ANC alliance in Mpumalanga. Members emerged from a provincial ANC alliance summit emphasising unity and cohesion.

The ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) have been at loggerheads with each other for years in the province.

The leaders of the two partners held hands as a sign of smoking the peace pipe. Leaders reaffirmed their unity and cohesion after years of division between the ANC and SACP in the province.

The two leaders, ANC provincial chairperson David Mabuza and Mpumalanga provincial secretary of the SACP, Bonakele Majuba appeared to have resolved their differences.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says, “These two leaders are now united and now going to work together that this unity was a crowning outcome of this alliance summit.”

The Alliance has been tasked to work together – to strengthen the organisation.

“We have acknowledged that unity and cohesion of the movement is sacrosanct and cannot be substituted by any tendency veering towards drawing any wedge between and within our alliance structures,” explains Ramaphosa.

The Nkandla Constitutional Court ruling was also raised.

“We agree with the President [JacobZuma] that this matter was beginning to sour confusion and frustration amongst our people,” says Ramaphosa.

The Alliance was urged to intensify its joint election campaign for the upcoming local election.

SOURCE: SABC