Pro-Zuma lobbyists planning new party a bunch of thieves, Xasa says
ANC veteran Fikile Xasa, the cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC, has lashed out at Jacob Zuma sympathisers calling them an “organisation of thieves”.
The pro-Zuma lobby, called Mazibuyele Emasisweni, believed to comprise religious, business stakeholders, traditional leaders and taxi operators, apparently plans to launch a party – the African Transformation Congress, soon.
Speaking at an event in Butterworth, Xasa accused some ANC members, traditional and church leaders of supporting the breakaway umbutho wamasela (organisation of thieves).
Xasa said those lobbying for a new party were “a bunch of thieves who are sympathising with other thieves”.
He said it was worrying that church and traditional leaders – people who were suppose to instil moral values in society – were being used by people with low morals to achieve mischievous goals.
“There are people who are taking exception to the calls being made that the ANC as an organisation distances itself from any corrupt activities or corrupt actions,” he said.
“There are people who are seemingly resisting and promoting something that says you are innocent until proven guilty. In the process, they are destroying the image of the ANC.
“As a disciplined member of the ANC, it is my responsibility to speak out on what is wrong and in the same breath, promote what is right and speak out against corruption, as it is not a tradition of the ANC,” Xasa said.
Xasa said the original position of the ANC was “if you are charged you should step aside and allow the image of the ANC to remain clean”.
“But there are people who want to sympathise with each other, who want to come out together and form a political organisation. We cannot keep quiet.
“We understand that some church leaders are part of the drivers of the lobby groups and some traditional leaders are being recruited, and we call upon them to refrain [from doing so]. The ANC belongs to the people of South Africa, not to thieves and corrupt people,” Xasa said.
He said some of the people involved in the formation of the new party were before the courts and others under investigation.
“Yet they are mobilising people to support them.”
The Sunday Times yesterday reported that a church leader and friend of Zuma planned to contest the next election in alliance with groups such as Black First Land First as part of a plan to force a Ramaphosa recall.
The rumours were all denied by Zuma supporters.