Africa-Press – Namibia. THE self-proclaimed ‘commander of discipline in the ANC’, newly elected secretary general (SG) Fikile Mbalula has asserted his authority, and by extension, the authority of president Cyril Ramaphosa on party members who didn’t toe the party line on Phala Phala.
In his first press briefing as SG, alongside party spokesperson Pule Mabe, the feisty Mbalula issued a stern warning to those who broke ranks and voted for the adoption of the Phala Phala report in parliament recently.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and four MPs, including Mervyn Dirks, Supra Mahumapelo and Mosebenzi Zwane went against a party decision to vote against impeaching Ramaphosa.
This has seen them on the receiving end of party disciplinary processes, with analysts and insiders predicting Dlamini-Zuma will be the first casualty in Ramaphosa’s imminent cabinet reshuffle.
Despite being re-elected as ANC president on Monday, Ramaphosa is still at risk as he is being investigated by the police, the tax office and the central bank over allegations that he stashed at least US$580 000 (about N$10 million at the current exchange rate) in a couch at his private farm, and then covered up its theft, allegedly by Namibian suspects.
“The president [Ramaphosa] abused his position as head of state to have the matter investigated and seek the assistance of the Namibian president to apprehend a suspect,” the report by an independent panel released earlier this month states.
Geingob and the Namibian authorities are extensively mentioned, with the panel, headed by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, finding prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa and Geingob were talking at the time of the investigation; that [Wally] Rhoode’s team investigated the matter in Namibia; that Namibian and South African authorities met in ‘no-man’s land’ at the Ariamsvlei border; that there was a request to the Namibian Police to “handle the matter with discretion” and that Ramaphosa asked for Geingob’s assistance in the investigation.
The Namibian Presidency is yet to respond to questions on the report’s findings sent weeks ago.
“Discipline is going to be important,” Mbalula said on Monday night. “There is no self respecting political party that will go to parliament and vote to impeach its own president. That decision can only be taken by the ANC. Here it is democratic centrally and the centre must hold. Whether you like it or not, the centre must hold,” Mbalula warned.
Mbalula’s stern warning to those who defy the party dominated much of the late evening press briefing on Monday when he told members of the media that the ANC’s 55th National Conference was instructing them to act decisively against acts of ill-discipline.
He said that some of the members’ behaviour was “uncouth”, “un-ANC” and “disrespectful”.
“You can’t confuse anarchy and ill-discipline to revolutionary conduct or militancy.
“Anarchy is anarchy, being uncouth and disrespectful must be dealt with.
“You have an issue, you’ve got national executive committee (NEC) members who attack the president, you’ve got NEC members who contradict themselves in public, the membership follows and then [they go on] social media insulting leadership giving an opinion about everything.
“Not that ANC members must not have an opinion but the centre must hold,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula further asserted that he would not allow every NEC member to share their views with the media.
“That is not going to happen, it’s not going to happen under my authority that I’ve been given by this conference as the custodian of the ANC constitution.
“So, I promise you one thing, there will be no lawlessness in the ANC.
“Those who are continuing with those shenanigans, they must be ready for me.
“It’s going to be me and them,” Mbalula said.
He said the ANC must behave like a party, but it has not been conducting its business like a well-oiled machine.
He said that even a stokvel is better managed.
Mbalula also vowed to lead from the front and promised to be better disciplined himself “so no more tweeting at midnight from my side”. –
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