‘ANC’s ego was behind its election defeat’
FORMER eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo yesterday lashed the ANC leadership for its perceived arrogance that had cost the party at least three major metros in the local government elections.
He was speaking at the funeral of SACP member Nontsikelelo Blose, who was murdered last week. She was buried in Inchanga yesterday.
Also laid to rest yesterday, was ANC member Xolani Ngcobo, who was attacked and killed by rioting community members after Blose’s murder.
The two ceremonies took place at the same time just kilometres apart following the collapse of attempts last week to organise a joint event.
Amid a large police presence, the funerals proceeded without any incidents.
Several other speakers also bemoaned the factionalism that was threatening to tear the tripartite alliance apart.
While leaders tried to be conciliatory, saying the fight was not between the SACP and ANC, their speeches made it clear that divisions run deep.
Indicative of this is that the SACP at national level has called for an early consultative conference for the ANC to do introspection.
“Today the ANC has lost metros because of the arrogance of the current leadership that does not want to listen,” Nxumalo told the hundreds of largely SACP members at Blose’s funeral.
The ANC lost Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane and the City of Joburg to DA-led alliances.
“This was not because the DA improved, it was because ANC voters were unhappy and decided to stay away,” said Nxumalo.
He said gate-keeping, inter- nal conflicts and factionalism were destroying the party.
“When we went to Mangaung we had 1.3 million members, and recently there are only 700 000 members.”
Nxumalo detailed how the problems in Inchanga began.
“It was at the branch gen- eral meeting held in October 2014. I was there. Some comrades who were part of the meeting and were credited had signed in.
“They went across the road to buy food and were locked out by the police,” he said.
Food served at the meeting was allegedly used as a weapon. “The food was served according to which ‘colour you were’.”
He said that since then, the area had been on a downward spiral, saying many SACP members who wanted to take up ANC membership were being sidelined.
He said it was also important that the ANC and the police investigate who was behind the killings, comparing them to the infamous murders in Richmond in the 1990s.
SACP member and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said much of the state had been captured.
“These conflicts should be dealt with by the ANC. If the ANC claims to be the leaders of the alliance, it should therefore lead.
“Right now the country is burning because people were imposed on them (com- munities), and money went into branches so that voting cows could be elected to the councils.
“It’s no more about service delivery, it is now about tenders and money,” Nxesi said.
He said the steady decline in party numbers over the years and the dramatic collapse in the local government elections were clear signs that there was a possibility the ANC would not be coming back in 2019.
“In 2019 we can kiss the revolution goodbye. People are no longer interested in boasting about the glory of the past, they want to know what you will do for them now.”
Nxesi said the SACP would be calling for an urgent consultative process.
“We do not want an early elective conference as many are suggesting, because that will be replacing one faction with another.”
It’s no more about service delivery, it’s about tenders and money