FOLLOW THE GREAT LEADERS ZUMA
Zuma calls for absolute loyalty from ANC volunteers
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma wants today’s ANC’s volunteers to emulate Nelson Mandela’s generation that developed and carried out the party’s programmes successfully.
“With the volunteers of the old there are tangible things you can talk about. They were very loyal and always ready to follow instructions. Volunteers must not be afraid because they are not acting in their own interest,” said Zuma, while addressing ANC members at the launch of the Moses Kotane volunteer brigades in Johannesburg yesterday.
He heaped praise on the Mandela generation of volunteers whom he credited with “laying down their lives in their fight for freedom ”.
He also told party members to also act as volunteers in implementing government programmes.
Zuma, whose name keeps cropping up as the scandal surrounding the landing of the Gupta wedding guests at Waterkloof Air Force Base deepens, kept clear of the subject during his speech.
His friendship with the Guptas has been blamed for the family ’ s apparent disregard of the law regarding the landing of their private aircraft at the national key point.
On the approaching elections, Zuma said: “When it is election time volunteers must not sleep. The ANC must remain in power.
“In next year ’ s election we want the biggest victory and it is in the hands of volunteers.”
Zuma said ANC volunteers should be politically developed but “not politically educated because when they are educated they will develop other ideas ”.
He also told party members they should not view being a volunteer as a ticket to positions.
“Volunteers should be less enthusiastic about leadership positions. Allow the ANC to identify you – do not campaign.”
He warned that ANC volunteers should be registered and known to members to avoid the party from being infiltrated.
Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile assured Zuma that the province ’ s party volunteers were ready for the election battle.