When Lekota and Madisha split from the ANC to form COPE, they were told to stay in the ANC and change it from within. Those that remained and who are trying to change THEIR ANC are now being treated as traitors and sell-outs. The issue is ownership of the brand and while the Zulu Nostra has the upper hand at the moment - even in KZN we are seeing the results of these two opposing forces. 
The ANC brand is increasingly toxic, and even if the anti-Zuma members are victorious, the brand will remain toxic and irredeemably broken. 
Best would be for the real ANC to resign en-masse and join up with Lekota's COPE and put some serious steel in a political party that is an acceptable 'middle' option over the DA and EFF.