ACDP rejects call by SANDU for mass action despite supporting removal of President Zuma

4 April 2016

The ACDP has rejected the call by the South African National Defence Union (SANDU) for its union members to “participate in any lawful mass action campaigns which might be called to the end of lawfully recalling and or removing President Zuma from office".

The SANDU's call came in light of the ruling by the Constitutional Court regarding President Jacob Zuma violating the South African Constitution.

ACDP Parliamentary Leader, Rev Kenneth Meshoe, today said that, “We caution armed forces to avoid taking any political action, even in their personal capacity, because doing so would send the wrong message to South Africans and the international community. It can be understood that our armed forces are planning to lead a ‘coup d'é·tat’ in the country - as that has happened many times on the African continent.

While the ACDP supports the ‘removal’ of President Zuma from office for his failure to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution, such ‘removal’ must follow a legal route only: he should either resign, or the ANC should replace him like they replaced President Mbeki or the National Assembly should vote to remove him.

A statement from the SANDU Head Office on Friday, 1 April 2016, read:

“SANDU encourages all members of society, including soldiers to participate in their private capacity and time in any lawful mass action campaigns which might be called to the end of lawfully recalling and or removing President Zuma from office.”

Statement issued by ACDP President, Rev Kenneth Meshoe, 4 April 2016