LETTERS In the spirit of camaraderie

SIR – I chose to keep quiet for a while regarding this issue of the redeployment of the MEC for Cooperative Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs in the NC, Comrade Alvin Botes.

The reality of the matter is that at NO STAGE did the comrade defy or reject his deployment to the National Assembly. It is common course that the ANC remains a strategic centre of power and all its decisions must be implemented as such.

As a mature comrade of the movement, Comrade Alvin Botes is on record to say that he needed some time to sort out his personal matters and the movement needed to consider such a request if indeed it’s a caring movement, as it is purported to be.

This assertion is confirmed by the ANC Provincial Secretary, Comrade Deshi Nxqanga, in today’s publication of the New Age and indeed he confirms the engagements between the movement and the said comrade.

I’m however shocked to read the statement which is issued by Comrade Tumo Dichaba that “they” have instructed the local municipalities to remove the picture of the said comrade from all the municipal buildings throughout the district.

This decision does not only expose comrades to their narrow understanding of the relationship between the party and the state, but it is so naked that it deligitimises the intended objectives of the ANC deployment committee.

The manner in which comrades articulate the matter leaves much to be desired, it exposes the extent of anger and vindictiveness towards a comrade whom we should call our own.

The fact that the newspaper headline reads “We no longer want MEC” and Comrade Webster Dichaba goes on and bluntly confirms such an assertion is shocking to say the least, the ANC is not a pig, it does not feed on one of their own.

It would only be appropriate for the ANC in proving to rebuke such reckless statements, such statements do not befit the calibre of the glorious movement as big as the ANC and in the spirit of camaraderie.

ALI DITEME IN PERSONAL CAPACITY