The Minister in the Presidency responsible for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has conveyed her decision to retire from parliament to the African National Congress (ANC) leadership.
Dlamini-Zuma, who has served as an ANC Member of Parliament since 1994, expressed her decision in a letter addressed to ANC electoral committee head Kgalema Motlanthe and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula on Friday.
Dlamini-Zuma’s decision comes in response to the ANC’s invitation for her to attend an interview for the 2024 national list on 16 January.
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In her letter, she expressed her gratitude to the ANC branches for nominating her and acknowledged the opportunity and support provided by the party to serve the country and the people of South Africa as a public representative and member of the Cabinet since 1994.
She also expressed her appreciation to the leadership of the African National Congress at various levels, from national to provincial, regional, and branch, for their guidance and the chance to serve as the first woman at the helm of the African Union Commission and the first chairperson of the commission from the South African Development Community.
Asserting her decision to retire from the South African Parliament, Dlamini-Zuma stated, “It will not be necessary to schedule the interview for the 2024 national list because I have decided to retire from being a member of the South African Parliament.”
While Dlamini-Zuma’s future within the ruling party remains uncertain, it is worth noting that she currently faces a case before the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee for deviating from the party line on certain parliamentary issues.
Last year, Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina called for action against Dlamini-Zuma for her absence from the Cape Town City Hall during the vote for the removal of Busisiwe Mkhwebane as the country’s public protector.
Earlier, Dlamini-Zuma had also diverged from the ANC parliamentary caucus position and voted in favor of adopting the Section 89 panel’s recommendation for a committee to consider President Cyril Ramaphosa’s impeachment process over Phala Phala.
Despite the controversy surrounding her decision, Dlamini-Zuma has maintained that she does not regret voting for the adoption of the report.
Reflecting on her stance, she stated, “If you take a decision and you believe that you are right, and your conscience is clear, you will take whatever comes with it.”
As Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma steps away from parliamentary duties, her retirement marks the end of an era in South African politics. With a distinguished career spanning decades, she has left an indelible mark on the African National Congress and the country as a whole.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Dlamini-Zuma within the ANC and how her legacy will continue to shape the political landscape of South Africa.
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