ANC general-secretary Fikile Mbalula has made a plea to journalists to assist in locating former president and uMkhonto weSizwe Party leader, Jacob Zuma. The plea comes as the party is currently hosting a crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Gauteng. 

HELP US FIND ZUMA

Mbalula made the plea while addressing the media and said that the ANC's biggest headache at the moment was finding Zuma. Mbalula was responding to the questions from journalists who wanted to know how the negotiations between the ANC and the MKParty about a possible coalition were going. "It's been very difficult to engage with the MK Party. We've tried to reach out but draw a blank. It will depend on the outcome of this meeting whether we'll still meet with them. We've said we're open to talking to everybody, including the MK Party," he said. Mbalula earnestly requested the assistance of journalists in locating Zuma, as he shared, "When we communicate with the MK Party, they tell us that they are awaiting uBaba (Jacob Zuma) but he cannot be found. We have made numerous attempts to reach out. If you, as journalists, can aid us in locating Jacob Zuma, it would be greatly appreciated." Mbalula pleaded.

DEMONSTRATORS MISINFORMED

As the ANC NEC meeting to discuss coalition government, some members of the ANC were protesting outside the venue against the ANC and DA coalition. Mbalula said they were misinformed. "We never announced any plans to form a coalition with the DA. We have assessed the election results which do not favour us, and, in this instance, we outlined that we are talking to everyone, who in terms of the leaderboard has received significant numbers," Mbalula said. He added that the protest was unfortunate and is misplaced because this is a time for sober minds. "Even as we go inside the meeting, we are not going in as though we think alike. We are not dealing with the discussions from a point of view of locking ourselves into one option, as we are looking at all and various options,"