We must rebuild ANC to its former glory

Once upon a time there were such great generations in the history of our glorious movement, the ANC.

When the majority of Oliver Tambo’s comrades got arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment during the Rivonia Trial, Tata Oliver Tambo, under difficult circumstances, in a foreign land again built a second layer of the best leaders.

This is the generation of Joe Modise, Joel Nhlanhla, Alfred Nzo, John Nkadimeng, Joe Slovo, Zolile Ngcakani, Mavuso Msimang, Chris Hani, Thabo Mbeki, Zola Skweyiya, Pallo Jordan, Steve Tshwete and so on

This generation, mainly from exile and some from inside-operations, integrated with the old generation of Tata Nelson Mandela, the majority of whom were from prison, plus the internal leadership core, mainly from the ranks of the then United Democratic Front (UDF) and broader MDM structures, to re-establish the movement inside the country after its unbanning.

This is arguably, the last great generation to have led the ANC.

It is now our turn to rise from the bottom to rebuild the ANC.

The current leaders such as Stan Mathabatha, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, Mlungisi Mvoko and many more, need to rise above and take this baton with warm hands and with a vision of uniting the ANC and people of SA.

The ANC must be returned to its glorious self without fail.

This is the responsibility we must discharge without fail or history will judge us harshly.

The current crop of leaders within the ANC must adapt to situations and collectively agree that poverty is hammering our people, and agree that corruption is a major evil today and enemy of the masses, as are character assassinations of other comrades.

The generation of ours is no longer fighting against apartheid, so my plea is that it must fight against injustices of the past, must fight against seeing other comrades and people going to sleep without food, and must fight against factionalism within the ANC.

It’s time for the current leaders to distance themselves from politics of money, whereby money is used to ascend to power, and distance itself from political killings and hate.

As we draw near to the end of 2019, the ANC needs leaders who are dedicated to emulating the generation before them, of Mavuso Msimang’s calibre.

The ANC in 2020 must be different and new.

It must clean itself of everything dirty and destroy the wolves, ready to expose corruption and looting, in the interests of our country.

In my ANC today, there are different types of members, namely:

● Looters: Their primary objective is to loot government monies and abuse all state resources using the party’s name;

● Thugs: They are being used to abuse opposition parties and defend their leaders at all costs, with no principles, they are outlaws, they don’t apply the rule of law, or constitution, they insult and assault those who are smarter than them;

● Power-mongers: Such members are very dangerous species because they will do anything in their power just to stay in power no matter what, they will go as far as using all resources including state resources just to stay in power and even kill other members; and

● Principled members: Such wonderful members are those who follow the rule of law, understand the constitution and follow it and often they put their country first.

In 2020, we need to be an ANC of Tambo, Mandela and other forebears who worked tirelessly in the interest of our country.

Viwe Sidali, ANC Mzwanele Fazzie branch, former ANCYL REC Dr WB Rubusana region

and activist