When ANC officials who had opposed President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle made their dramatic about-turn on April 5, secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the party’s MPs would oppose the motion of no confidence in the president. In his media briefing, Mantashe said "no army general can allow his forces to be commanded by the enemy forces". He made it clear that "No ANC member will vote in a motion of the opposition". These statements were a clear reaction to the statement made by the fired finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, who, shortly after being axed, said he would vote his conscience in a vote of no confidence. That vote is now set for April 18. Opposition party leaders had also said they had been contacted by ANC MPs who were considering doing the same. Mantashe clearly wanted to nip all such intentions in the bud. There are two aspects of Mantashe’s remarks that are disconcerting, and invite comment. The first is that he uses a war metaphor to stop ANC MPs acting on their mo...
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