Stalwarts blame ANC’s top brass for the rot
ing from actions of some of our elected leaders, executive members and Members of Parliament.
“As a result of this alien experience to the ANC is that the gains of our national democratic revolution are under serious threat as constitutional institutions become eroded,” Serote said.
He called on the conference, which ends tomorrow, to identify the root cause of the crisis, which has seen the ANC constantly losing its moral authority.
“Having done that, we must reach a consensus on what must be done to rescue and save our country,” Serote said.
Nelson Mandela Foundation chairperson Professor Njabulo Ndebele was more scathing on the implication of ANC leaders in corruption.
“The ANC that was elected to support law and order, and constitutional rule – in several aspects of its conduct – has abdicated that responsibility.
“It has itself the become the thief that steals,” Ndebele said.
He said that under President Jacob Zuma the government had been turned into a criminal syndicate that protected itself from the consequences of its own transgressions.
“It has become a matter of absolute importance hat all South Africans recognise at this moment, and the necessity to rescue their country and themselves (from the) secret and security- driven state which has consolidated in the last 19 years into an organised criminal order that wilfully defrauds the state,” Ndebele said, to applause.
Ndebele said the ANC may drive itself into permanent irrelevance if it does not change its trajectory as reasons for historical loyalties to it were diminishing.
While none of the ANC officials were present at the conference, former president Thabo Mbeki and several members of the ANC national executive committee were in attendance.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli hailed Ndebele’s remarks, saying they were shared by many within the ruling party.
“His remarks were a fascinating, thoughtful reflection of the current condition and I think it will reverberate and be with us for a very long time,” Tsenoli said.
He slammed the ANC leadership’s negative attitude towards the conference and described their no-show yesterday as regrettable.
“Right from the beginning this process should have been part of ANC processes, and their absence here is a consistent reflection of that attitude, which is unfortunate,” Tsenoli said.
He said that while the elected top leadership of the ANC had a right to snub the conference, it was a missed opportunity as the crisis facing the ruling alliance needed initiatives similar to the stalwarts’ conference.
National Council of Churches general secretary Bishop Mpumlwana echoed Tsenoli’s sentiments, adding that the ANC and the council had drifted apart in terms of values despite their historical ties. “The ANC in government has veered away from the fundamentals for a just society and a quest for the good life for all,” Mpumlwana said.
Presidential hopeful Lindiwe Sisulu took a swipe at other hopefuls who claimed to want to restore the party to its original values but snubbed the conference organised by the stalwarts for renewal.
Sisulu said if other presidential hopefuls were serious about their campaign message of renewal, they would have joined the ANC’s old guard in reflecting on the crisis facing the party and the country.
The stalwarts are set to craft a declaration of what must be done to help save the ANC and send it to the party.
ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa refused to comment on the conference, saying he did not know how its recommendations would be implemented.
“I don’t know. The ANC did not convene a consultative conference. It was convened by the veterans and stalwarts of the ANC,” Kodwa said.