Mbete, Mabuza speak out against corruption in ANC
ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete has hit out against corrupt leaders, saying they have to be condemned and exposed.
Mbete told tens of thousands of ANC supporters at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, who were attending the January 8 statement celebrations yesterday, that there was no policy in the ANC supporting corruption and that corrupt leaders must be condemned.
She said the party needs leaders who are unifiers at the national elective conference in December.
“As this is the year of OR Tambo, we need leaders who will be unifiers ... who will deal with factions within the party,” she said.
She said instead of ANC members focusing on the succession battle, they should prioritise the policy conference in June.
“So before we speak of leaders let’s look at policies, and some people should be subjected to our policy ‘through the eye of the needle’ to be leaders.”
Mbete said those who had left the party should come back.
“We saw on TV comrades beating each other with stones, but now we are seeing a different story [of] unity [being] forged with the comrades. All those who have left must come back. There must be no gatekeepers who will stop our people from coming back to the ANC. The unity you have with the alliance is very good for the ANC,” said Mbete.
Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza said at the gathering that leaders of the party must behave in an exemplary fashion.
Meanwhile, Mabuza’s campaign to get into the ANC’s top six received a boost when he announced that former deputy president of the ANC Youth League Ronald Lamola had agreed to return to the province to work with him.
During a fund-raising gala dinner on Saturday, attended by Mbete and business people including billionaire Robert Gumede, Mabuza said he roped in Lamola to forge unity in the party. Lamola has been one of Zuma’s fiercest critics and even called for him to be recalled.
“Regardless of the problems in our movement, I’m glad to say in Mpumalanga we are stable. From time to time we have to forge unity, and today in our midst we have got the former president of the ANC Youth League, Ronald.
“We had a very good discussion with Ronald – a father-to-son talk.
“We agreed that Ronald [must] come back home. So to you people of the province, Ronald is our son. I should direct you to work together. Together we will lead this province,” said Mabuza.
“I’m the happiest chairperson. Mpumalanga, you are the best, maybe I should say it. There are many more challenges ahead of us. We are going to a conference, and the word from our leadership says do not discuss leadership and I’m sure you will obey that.
“We are united with the SA Communist Party, SA National Civics Organisation and Cosatu ... therefore unity must be key in all we are doing. Our leaders must also be exemplary. We are going to say this to the chairperson (Mbete) and write a letter and give it to her so she can give [it] to the national executive committee,” said Mabuza