Winds of change must blow through ANC — Masualle

Former premier says ruling party needs new leadership

Former Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle says it’s time for new leadership in the ANC.

Masualle, now deputy minister of public enterprises, has been nominated for the position of secretarygeneral as the ANC prepares to pick new leaders at its national elective conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg, in December.

Various party structures, including those in Kwazulu-natal, have shown faith in the national executive committee member.

Speaking on Safm on Thursday, Masualle — who supports former health minister Zweli Mkhize’s presidential bid — weighed in on the state of the party ahead of the conference.

He said it was time for the winds of change to blow.

“I have put much emphasis on the need for us to look at a step-change in our leadership,” he said.

“The way we express ourselves, we assert ourselves, I think we need change in the leadership.

“But, of course, finality on the matter belongs to the delegates at the conference.

“I merely express my view.

“I think it [the conference] possesses what I consider critical at this time: the ability to draw the diverse sectors — within the ANC first and then beyond the ANC — into some kind of a common programme that I think the liberation movement is championing all the time, and should be doing so right now.

“I see a lot of cracks and movements away from the ANC at the moment and I think we need a leader who can help us wedge all these together.”

Commenting on the Digital Vibes scandal, in which Mkhize has faced allegations of wrongdoing, Masualle described it as “concerning”.

But, he said, when someone faces accusations, they should be given an opportunity to answer for themselves.

“The problem is having allegations that are hanging without anything being done about them,” Masualle said.

“If we persist along that route, we will condemn everybody.”

Masualle said the ANC’S step-aside rule would not be the defining issue at the elective conference.

Though the party’s provincial structures differed on the implementation of the resolution, he said the conference presented the ANC with an opportunity to scrutinise all its resolutions.

“I think there are many more critical issues facing the conference, like the wellbeing of the country, joblessness, the misfiring economy and violent crime.

“Look at progress and where obstacles have been. The conference will decide if we no longer need this.”

Masualle said the step-aside rule should be reviewed with a view to strengthening it.

“Loose ends need to be tightened.” Asked about the Phala Phala farm theft saga, Masualle said President Cyril Ramaphosa “owed us and the nation an explanation”.

“It should have happened a long time ago so that if there was any wrongdoing we could hear it from the president.

“For as long as that does not happen, it just continues to create an air of doubt, which I think is unnecessary.”

Though he was shunned by his province in the ANC nomination

I see a lot of cracks, and movements away from the ANC at the moment and I think we need a leader who can help us wedge all these together

process, Masualle’s bid to become the secretary-general of the party received a big boost in September, when Kwazulu-natal officially announced that it had decided to throw its weight behind him.

KZN will send the largest number of voting delegates to the elective conference.

The ANC announced in September that 4,250 delegates from branches across the country would attend the conference.

KZN leads the pack with 877 delegates, followed by the Eastern Cape, with 684.

Though the Eastern Cape has already endorsed Ramaphosa’s re-election bid, KZN nominated Mkhize as its preferred presidential candidate.

Masualle is expected to face stiff competition from other party heavyweights for the position of secretarygeneral, including transport minister Fikile Mbalula.