Mapaila lambasts corrupt MPs
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has to help the ANC and resign and so help to save the party and assist the party’s alliance partners, SACP and Cosatu, SACP second deputy secretary-general Solly Mapaila said at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sports Complex on Sunday.
Mapaila was addressing the Elijah Barayi Memorial Lecture. Barayi was a deputy president of the National Union of Mineworkers in 1982 and the first Cosatu president in 1985.
Mapaila, a known Zuma critic, said Barayi would wave a finger in the air to make a point when he spoke of wrongdoing.
“Today Barayi would wave that finger and tell Zuma to resign. Any revolution that takes itself seriously, addresses poverty and inequality. Any government that cannot deal with these two challenges cannot live long,” he said to applause.
Mapaila said the current economic system was not favouring poor people.
“The ANC is not a Zuma or a Gupta party,” he said to cheers and loud applause.
He said the aim of the ANC was not to make individuals rich, but to get people out of poverty, adding Barayi was a selfless intellectual who had wanted to serve the people. Selflessness had to be restored in the ANC.
Mapaila said Barayi and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa had changed the face of unionism when they led unions.
Capitalists were stealing government money and capitalism and corruption had to be destroyed.
“Some people want the Guptas to run this country. There are ministers who are controlled by them,” he said to applause.
Present were Barayi’s granddaughter Lizeka Barayi Sitosha, social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi and ANC regional chairwoman and CHDM mayor Kholiswa Vimbayo.
“The rot in the ANC is embarrassing and there is chaos because of Zuma. Why should the movement kill itself because of one man?”
He said the acceptance of corruption would destroy the country. ANC members must build strong structures that would hold its leadership accountable. The alliance was not working correctly as Zuma no longer respected alliance partners.
“We want ANC officials we can trust. We told Zuma not to fire [former finance minister Pravin] Gordhan and [his deputy Mcebisi] Jonas. We do not want government to become an ATM for individuals. Do not be afraid to talk about Zuma.”
The event was organised by the alliance partners in the region, Cosatu regional chairman Mongameli Mancam said.