What Mr. Mthembu's piece leaves out is that the VoNoCo has become the only way of ousting Zuma.

The ANC on its own cannot get rid of Zuma, because Zuma the master strategist (with financial and PR help from the Guptas) has loaded key ministries, the NEC, the Women's League, the Youth League, with his cronies/clients, and will do everything in his power to ensure that in December pro-Zuma delegates outnumber anti-Zuma delegates.

There is no reason to trust that absent a VoNoCo, the "good" ANC will be able to wrest control from the "bad" ANC. (The ANC's moves against corruption cited by Mr Mthembu don't even scratch at the surface).

Yes, the outcome of a successful VoNoCo is unpredictable and likely to be messy, but the alternative is likely to be worse. We can't even trust that we'll just be getting more of the same from the Zuptas; as they become increasingly cornered they are likely to resort to ever more heinous means to save their skins, and if possible, their ill-gotten gains.