ANC on way down – MK
The MK Council, made up of former generals and commissars of the ANC’s liberation army, Umkhonto we Sizwe, warned that the ANC was now firmly on a downward spiral and taking the country down with it.
The structure, which was launched in 2016 ahead of the Nasrec elective conference, expressed support for the country and party president Cyril Ramaphosa’s letter that called the ANC “corruption accused number one”. It, however, decried the lack of action in that regard.
“We must also point out that we are shocked and disturbed that instead of witnessing action supporting the spirit of the decisions of the ANC NEC [national executive committee] regarding that letter, we see no movement, except a clear indication of defiance by those leaders who have to lead by example,” said MK Council’s secretary-general Gregory Nthatisi.
He called out the likes of MP Bongani Bongo and former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede for remaining in their roles despite an NEC decision calling for those facing serious and corruption charges to step aside.
He also expressed disappointment in the NEC’s handling of Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Andile Lungisa’s matter and the reappointment of ANC Limpopo treasurer Danny Msiza and deputy chairperson Florence Radzilani.
Lungisa was found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after throwing a jug at DA councillor Rano Kayser’s head during a brawl in the metro council in October 2016.
While the pair in Limpopo had “stepped aside” after being implicated in widespread looting that led to the collapse of VBS Mutual Bank, they were reinstated following two years of nonaction against them by law enforcement authorities.
“While the courts cleared them, the integrity commission has not done so. As an institution tasked with the upkeep of the ANC’s values, we believe it should be given priority to relook into their case before they were reinstated in their leadership positions,” said Nthatisi.
The council also hit out at party heavyweight Tony Yengeni, saying it did not feel he was fit to lead the project of uniting the warring MK factions, or to continue as chair of the party’s subcommittee on peace and stability.
Yengeni last month suggested during a national working committee meeting that Ramaphosa should consider stepping down. “So far, comrade Tony Yengeni has proved himself either incapable of leading that project or deliberately flip-flopping it because of his partiality,” said Nthatisi.
They accused Yengeni of addressing gatherings of a faction known as RET (radical economic transformation), which had been backing ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and former president Jacob Zuma, while consistently attacking Ramaphosa and his efforts as leader of the party.
Nthatisi said Yengeni also failed to act against MKMVA president Kebby Maphatsoe and the association, which released its own statements and held media briefings. Last month, the MKMVA called for a dissolution of Ramaphosa’s NEC, calling it paralysed.
“The ANC is suffering and we must make sure it doesn’t go to the doldrums of history.”