Hands off, Hani’s widow tells Zuma’s new party
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal does not expect to lose many votes to the uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party because it was neither formed nor led by “credible, ethical leaders”, ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said.
Mtolo was speaking on Wednesday after ANC heavyweights spent time in the province last weekend discouraging members and supporters from following MK party leader and former president Jacob Zuma.
To emphasise his point, Mtolo compared the MK party to ANC breakaway COPE, saying the party endorsed by Zuma will not dent ANC support.
“COPE was formed by credible, ethical leaders; they left the ANC — they were never accused of any wrongdoing. Now there are many parties formed before an election, but what is good about this election is that they are formed by dodgy characters,” he said. He claimed MK was a project that began almost five years ago with the formation of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) .
“This party [MK] was formed as early as 2019, after they formed ATM and it didn’t do well in the election. They are led by anger and hatred, [which] makes you do stupid things. They know it won’t take off.”
SENIOR ANC FIGURES
Mtolo said the ANC attempted to persuade Zuma not to leave by sending provincial and other senior ANC figures to engage him, but this was in vain.
“I sent the chair of Musa Dladla [Zuma’s region]. Despite Zuma’s cars being at home, he was told Zuma was not there. I sent Vusi Dube and Willies Mchunu but there was no common ground. I asked Zweli Mkhize to speak to Zuma but they have not met. We did try,” he said.
Mtolo said Zuma has made up his mind and there is no point in trying to persuade him to stay. He suggested Zuma’s departure from the party came as a relief.
Meanwhile, Chris Hani’s widow, Limpho, has distanced the late struggle stalwart from the MK party, which she says seems to attract unscrupulous individuals. Limpho said had Hani been alive today, he would want nothing to do with the MK party, which, she said, has “corrupt
individuals, criminals and fraudsters” in its ranks.
She has, through her lawyers, barred the party from visiting Hani’s grave and using his name, pictures and apparel in its election campaign.
The MK party is a new political formation backed by Zuma. It is registered with the Electoral Commission of SA and intends to contest the 2024 national and provincial elections.
VISIT THE GRAVE
Limpho’s comments come after the party said it intended to visit the grave of Hani. The planned visit was part of the party’s strategy to link itself with deceased struggle stalwarts who had been part of the ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe. Hani was one of the MK commanders in exile.
“Chris Thembisile Hani, were he alive today, will never associate himself with corrupt fraudsters, impostors and effective criminals the MK party appears to attract and/or associate with. His rich legacy must be protected and saved from these bloodthirsty committed criminal elements,” Limpho said through her lawyers, Morathi & Mataka Attorneys.
“Chris Hani’s political discipline is accurately and properly documented in the history of the ANC and the SACP and does not need the corrupt/fraudsters and effective criminals to explain to all and sundry in that regard.”
Though she did not specify what action she would take should the MK party go against her wishes, she was vehement in her refusal to have her late husband’s “rich legacy” linked to it.
“The MK party and its members and/or agents are specifically not allowed anywhere near the gravesite of Chris Thembisile Hani, nor is the party allowed to use symbols, but not limited to pictures, names, apparels, insignia, that Chris Hani stood for.”