Divisions a cancer in the party – Nene
Ex-minister banks on incoming leadership
Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene says the ANC needs to ensure that the right leadership is elected in December in order to save the party from further splits.
Nene, who was axed in December 2015 by President Jacob Zuma, was speaking yesterday on the sidelines of the 20th Southern African International Audit Conference in Sandton, Johannesburg.
“If we make a mistake with the leadership we elect in December, we will not be in control of the country. It depends on how we get to December.
“If we continue with the route that we are on, of factionalism and acrimony, we will end up with a divided ANC,” said Nene.
“But there’s still room for selfcorrection. I think as the ANC, we must come up with a coalition where we begin to say let’s throw away this factionalism, let’s work together and emerge, that would be the best outcome for the ANC,” he said.
Nene also defended ANC MPs who voted against the motion of no confidence in Zuma, saying they did so to protect the party.
“I don’t want to get personal with this, but this is a symptom of what we are dealing with. It is not the man himself that we are dealing with, but the ANC.
“Remember, it was a vote on a person who, if it succeeded, would’ve continued to be president of the ANC,” Nene said.