Skweyiya ‘detested factionalism’
DEPUTY President David Mabuza has denounced what he called “arrogance leadership” and said it serves no purpose.
He was the main speaker at yesterday’s memorial service of ANC veteran and former cabinet minister Zola Skweyiya.
The event, held at the Tshwane events centre, was attended by former president Thabo Mbeki, ANC members, mostly from the ANC Veterans League and ministers.
“To best honour the legacy of this gentle giant of our struggle for freedom, we must agree that arrogance of leadership must give way to humility,” he said.
Mabuza said Skweyiya detested cliques and factions in the ANC.
“He lamented that we the leaders of the movement had become hostile. He despised the purging of comrades by dominant factions,” Mabuza said.
Skweyiya was part of ANC group of stalwarts and veterans who called on the then president Jacob Zuma to step down.
“Together with other veterans, a door was shut for him to openly engage on issues of concern at the time. Like many members of the ANC, Skweyiya would have been relieved by the outcomes of the 54th elective conference of the ANC in December,” Mabuza said.
Mabuza said the ANC was on an irreversible path of renewal as an honest servant of the people.
“We heard and saw his frustration about a leadership that had become blind to the suffering of the people and became deaf to the cries of society. The veterans and stalwarts of the ANC should never again feel they are treated with disdain and disrespect.”
In a glowing tribute, former justice minister Brigitte Mabandla said Skweyiya was passionate about returning land to the people.
“Those who occupy strategic positions must use their positions to better the lives of the people. Zola was concerned about the depth of poverty,” she said.
Former minister Charles Nqakula said Skweyiya was not a factional leader. Skweyiya rejected an invitation to join a factional group in the ANC in the past.
“He said it is against the policies and practices of the ANC. We are happy that you never sold out our struggle,” Nqakula said.
Skweyiya, who died last week at the age of 75, is due to be buried in Pretoria East, on Saturday. President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at the special official funeral service.