FORMER president and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma says his party has not yet made a decision over holding a national elective conference where it will elect its leaders.

Zuma was speaking in Estcourt at the memorial service of six MKP members who died in a taxi crash on their way to Nkandla to celebrate Zuma’s wife’s birthday.

The memorial service was held on Saturday. Speaking to hundreds of MKP supporters, Zuma said holding a conference would pose a threat to the organisation as the party fears that spies linked to the ANC could seek to infiltrate and sabotage them.

Speaking in Zulu, Zuma said the current MKP leadership was strong and formidable, and therefore there was no need to hold an elective conference.

He added that this was a deliberate decision.

“There are things that we have deliberately done as uMkhonto, like the issue of holding an elective conference. Our enemies are very smart – we will call the conference, and they will raise funds to support their candidates and destabilise our organisation, so we will not have a conference.

“I once asked other comrades why is the conference important? Scientifically speaking, what is the importance of having an elective conference? Why must we elect a new person after a few years even though the current person is still a good leader, I do not think having a conference is a good idea,” he said.

Zuma also paid tribute to the six MKP members who died in the crash.

He said the members epitomised fighting spirit and were courageous.

“Our fallen comrades were brave and they deserve to be celebrated. These people were on their way to surprise umaKhumalo (Zuma’s wife), and she was very excited that there were women coming to make her day, only for the same women to sadly pass away. I want to say we will continue to liberate our people just as they did.”

Addressing the crowd, Zuma also shared his fond memories of the late public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, saying that for some reason their relationship later became complex.

“When I wanted to go into exile in eSwatini, I had no money. I went to this guy (Pravin Gordhan) who passed away yesterday (Friday). He was my cadre and he was working in a pharmacy. I told him I wanted money and he gave it to me. (Later) something got into him, and he turned on me,” said Zuma.