Top brass killing ANC – Cyril
Greedy leaders cause of divisive factionalism
THE ANC is bedeviled by leaders so greedy for resources and money that their bitter fighting is causing factionalism and killing the organisation.
This was said by ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa in an address to thousands of ANC members celebrating the party’s 105th birthday at the Water Sisulu University Stadium in Mthatha yesterday. They were also marking the Year of Oliver Tambo who, had he survived to 2017, would have turned 100 this year.
Ramaphosa tore into corrupt, greedy ANC leaders, saying that unlike the party’s longest-serving president, the selfish had no interest in building or uniting the organisation.
“Many of the divisions are among leaders, not members,” said the deputy president.
“It is us leaders, not the members who are greedy and divisive and cause factionalism. We are fighting, not over politics but over resources and money for our personal benefit and not for the organisation.
“It is leaders who are dividing and killing the ANC. It is leaders who are corrupt. We must move away from these devious practices,” said Ramaphosa to applause.
He also said it had to be acknowledged that the ANC had been infiltrated by individuals and businesses who were intent on seeking preferential access to state business.
He urged all ANC members to emulate Tambo. “We must be O R Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu and Chris Hani and many others whose focus was only on uniting the ANC and growing it.”
Ramaphosa also announced that government would set aside almost R15-billion to assist students at tertiary education institutions.
This weekend it emerged that Ramaphosa – and not President Jacob Zuma – would lead the delegation of South African politicians, business leaders and academics to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from tomorrow to Friday.
City Press reported that Zuma had been listed to participate but the decision to withdraw seemed to come after it emerged that outspoken ANC stalwart and businessman Sipho Pityana was in the SA delegation.
Meanwhile Zuma yesterday made a surprise appearance at the party’s celebration in KwaDukuza on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.
Stating that it was not his intention to address the crowd but simply to attend as he was in the area for the funeral of a relative, Zuma nevertheless used the opportunity to urge ANC members to refrain from discussing ANC succession.
There were people obsessed with positions‚ and “we know the reason why”, Zuma said. “We want this to be discussed during the policy conference in June... We’re not saying people shouldn’t express themselves‚ this is a democracy. But how you express yourself tells what kind of a leader you are. There are leaders who unite and leaders who sow division because there are different kinds of leaders.”
Speaking earlier yesterday in Mthatha, ANC provincial chair Phumulo Masualle noted the many senior officials and politicians frequenting this province. “I can assure you that 2017 is the year of action and we will show them what we are made of,” he said.
“The Eastern Cape is not a province intlabmo yokufela amahashe (where one can come and do as he or she pleases),” said Masualle.
SACP provincial secretary Xolile Nqatha lashed out at “state capture”.