Duarte confirms special NEC meeting, lambasts Setona’s actions

African National Congress (ANC) Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte has confirmed that there will be a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, which will discuss a matter of national importance.

Speaking during a media briefing in Johannesburg, Duarte said the NEC will discuss a recommendation by the National Working Committee (NWC) and says that the inability of the party to take a decision on President Jacob Zuma is creating problems on the ground.

Duarte says, “The NEC is the highest decision making body in the ANC. It has never voted in its entire history as far as I can remember. We’ll be discussing a matter of serious concern to all within the ANC and of great public interest to the people of SA.”

She also described Monday’s incident outside Luthuli House as unacceptable and disgraceful.

Her comments were directed to the actions of the secretary of one of the ANC branches, Thabiso Setona, who was seen in a video kicking a woman who was part of the march.

Duarte says, “What happened yesterday outside this building was unacceptable and as far as we are concerned a complete disgrace to the people themselves who did this. The attempt to disgrace the ANC in that manner is unacceptable. In fact, Thabiso Setona has been suspended from the ANC. He has also been arrested and will face criminal charges.”