Africa-Press – South-Africa. The ANC says it will take disciplinary steps against MP Malusi Gigaba and suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, saying their recent public statements damage the party.
In an interview published with the Sunday Times, Gigaba said the party’s national executive committee had failed in its objectives.
“I think we are [too] preoccupied with our little corners, our little groupings,” Gigaba said. “There doesn’t seem to exist the possibility for us to get up briefly from these little groupings, so that we can now discuss what is… in the best interest of our country, of our movement, of our people, so that we achieve a postcolonial society. And until we are ready to do that, I think we are failing in our duty.”
Mchunu, speaking at the unveiling of a tombstone for the late struggle stalwart Nokuhamba Nyawo in Machobeni in Ngwavuma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, said the ANC was on the brink of collapse.
“If we do not win municipalities in the upcoming local government [elections] next year, come the national government elections, we will be history,” he said.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the party was seriously concerned about Gigaba and Mchunu’s comments and disapproved of their conduct.
“Their conduct represents a flagrant violation of ANC internal communication protocols and undermines the fundamental discipline of the movement,” she said. “These comrades acted outside any sanctioned organisational mandate or collective structure, making pronouncements that amount to deliberate de-campaigning of the ANC.
“These comrades are casting aspersions on the character and unity of the ANC, portraying the organisation as divided, incoherent and collapsing. These actions serve only the strategic agenda of counterrevolution and weaken the people’s confidence in their movement. No disciplined comrade would, of their own volition, make statements that embolden forces that have long sought to reverse the gains of our revolution.”
Bhengu said their comments did not reflect the views of any legitimate structure of the movement.
“And [the comments] must be seen as an opportunistic assault on the collective image, credibility, and cohesion of the ANC. The ANC categorically states that it is a revolutionary movement guided by democratic centralism principles and led through disciplined structures.”
The party gagged the two, saying: “Communications in the ANC is a constitutional mandate of the secretary-general [Fikile Mbalula], these powers are entrusted to the national spokesperson [Bhengu] for operational purposes. Any deviation from this established protocol undermines internal cohesion, unity and renewal. No comrade, regardless of their history or standing, is above the requirements of organisational discipline.”
Bhengu said the party would take the necessary steps against Gigaba and Mchunu.
“No comrade will be exempt from the discipline of the organisation, which demands unity, discipline and revolutionary morality from all. As we advance the programme of renewal in the ANC and society, we must intensify our efforts to serve our people with humility and dignity,” said Bhengu.
“The renewal programme cannot coexist with ill-discipline; we have no tolerance for conduct that seeks to weaken the collective. We call on all members and leaders of our movement to return to the basic principles and values of our movement and be committed to respecting the integrity and sanctity of our organisational processes.”
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