University of South Africa (UNISA) Political Analyst Professor Dirk Kotze says he believes there is no political agenda behind the intention of African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee member, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to retire from Parliament, ahead of the 2024 elections.
She informed the ANC that she wouldn’t be returning to Parliament after the general elections.
The ANC is in the process of interviewing candidates for the national list to stand for a seat in Parliament after nominations from branches.It has so far interviewed 200 of the 300 candidates.
Professor Kotze says it was expected she would retire. “I think this is less of a political issue. She’s the oldest member of the cabinet. The other one that could follow is Pravin Gordhan. My expectation is that he’s also going to retire and other members, as we know it is a natural phenomenon.
“It is not something of a political agenda. In her case, she was the minister during the pandemic and President Ramaphosa didn’t try to marginalise her but there was no active campaign from his side against her. I expect many other members even younger than her would announce that they would retire in this election.”
ANC NEC member Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to retire as Member of Parliament
Last year, it was reported that Dlamini-Zuma could face sanctions in her political home for voting in favour of the adoption of the report into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala saga as well as over her absence in the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s impeachment vote in Parliament.
ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina completed a report which she sent to the office of the Secretary-General. Party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri noted that disciplinary processes must kick in despite a member’s ranking.
“Regardless of who is impacted by what we call acting outside of the ANC, processes must kick in and it cannot be that they mustn’t because it’s Mahlengi. They must be consistent because if discipline is not consistent then members will lose trust in the process of the ANC.”
Full Story Source: No political agenda in Dlamini-Zuma’s retirement, says Expert
