Following a marathon 13 hour long meeting in Pretoria last night, the ANC’s National Executive Committee has resolved to recall President Jacob Zuma, but it seems the president refuses to resign just yet.

The NEC briefed journalists this afternoon, saying it had to pursue the matter “firstly in the interest of the country and the ANC” and with the “utmost dignity”.

Addressing the media, ANC secretary general Ace Magashule said the president had agreed in principle to resign and had proposed time frames extending from three to six months.

“While appreciating President Zuma’s proposal, the NEC noted that South Africa is going through a period of uncertainty and anxiety as a result of the unresolved matter of transition. Further that this uncertainty and anxiety will erode the renewed hope and confidence among South Africans since the 54th National Conference of the ANC,” he said.

The NEC said the current situation requires the party to act with urgency in order to steer the country towards greater levels of unity, renewal and hope.

“We are determined to restore the integrity of the public institutions, create political stability and urgent economic recovery. Some of the matters we are contending with are the opportunistic manoeuvers by the opposition in parliament including motions of no confidence in the President, calls for dissolution for parliament and other desperate acts. The ANC’s approach to this matter has, at all times, been informed by the interests of the South African people,” said Magashule.

“Sensitive of the need to handle this matter with dignity, the NEC once again sent a delegation to brief the President Jacob Zuma about the need to shorten the timeframes so that this matter is speedily resolved. The NEC received feedback from the delegation that the President of the Republic did not accede to a shorter time frame.”

Magashule said Zuma had not done anything wrong, but that their decision was based purely on the need to ensure a smooth transition of power from the ruling party to the state. He added that the ANC wanted Cyril Ramaphosa be the new president.

Read this extract from the statement below:

The NEC therefore decided as follows:

-To recall its deployee, Comrade Jacob Zuma, in accordance with Rule 12.2.21.2 of the ANC Constitution, which accords the NEC the authority to “recall any public representative”.
-There should be continuing interaction between the officials of the ANC and the President of the Republic.
-The decision by the NEC to recall its deployee was taken only after exhaustive discussion on the impact such a recall would have on the country, the ANC and the functioning of government.
-The decision of the NEC provides certainty to the people of South Africa at a time when the economic and social challenges facing the country require urgent and resolute response by all sections of society.
-It is critical that South Africans are united around the task of growth, job creation and economic transformation.
-This decision will be communicated publicly and through appropriate forums to all structures of the ANC, Alliance Structures and all the Mass Democratic Formations.
All necessary parliamentary processes that arise from this decision will now ensue.