League members back Ramaphosa
Zuma accused of destroying ANC
The ANC women’s and youth leagues’ campaign for Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was thrown into disarray yesterday when some of the leagues’ members openly declared their support for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to lead the ANC.
The two ANC leagues have always been united in their call for Dlamini-Zuma to replace President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader.
Andrew Mapheto zonal committee member Sello Sekhokho dropped a bombshell when he told ANC members not to mention Zuma’s name when they make reference to the ANC.
Speaking in a packed marquee in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, during the Oliver Tambo Memorial Lecture, Sekhokho tore into Zuma, accusing him of destroying the ANC.
“He must do us a favour and step down,” Sekhokho said. “Instead, he wants to give us a mini-Zuma [Nkosazana] so that they can continue looting,” he said.
Sekhokho, one of the contenders for the ANCYL Gauteng leadership position – who was arrested for allegedly throwing rocks at DA marchers in the Johannesburg CBD in 2014 – said Ramaphosa was the only person who could rescue the ANC.
“Our hope is in your hands,” he said. “We love the ANC and we will not allow this organisation of OR Tambo to go to the dogs.
“The apartheid government failed to destroy the ANC but Zuma destroyed the ANC within eight years.”
ANCWL Ekurhuleni regional task team member Lindiwe Mnguni said the region was supporting Ramaphosa 100%.
“We are not confused,” Mnguni said amid thunderous applause from the crowd. “We are endorsing you under the principle of the ANC.”
Ramaphosa was repeatedly referred to as the “incoming president”.
In his speech, Ramaphosa said former ANC leaders Tambo and Nelson Mandela worked very well together.
“They were not against each other,” Ramaphosa said. “They were working very well together even [when] they were in different spaces.”
Ramaphosa said Tambo did not focus on material gain.
“Comrade OR Tambo was a hard worker who focused on what the ANC needed to do,” he said. “He was one of the great leaders this country ever produced.”