Lungani Zungu
President Jacob Zuma has taken the gloves off and lashed out at high-profile detractors within the ANC, saying criticism would not be tolerated and those outside the ANC “must keep quiet”.
Zuma yesterday hit out at critics who have called him a liability and launched a thinly veiled attack on his former deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, accusing him of being “politically bankrupt”.
Zuma was addressing the KwaZulu-Natal ANC conference in Pietermaritzburg.
Without mentioning names, the president said: “I heard something in the newspaper where one comrade, who has been respected for a long time (is), saying the alliance is dead. They are sitting at home… lonely. They left the ANC on their own, they were not chased out,” said Zuma, to the thunderous applause of the delegates.
An angry Zuma continued to hit out at detractors, saying they criticised the ANC because it was “cold” out there.
“Some of them were in the leadership of government; they are now out of government and the biggest critics of government.”
Motlanthe made headlines recently with a Business Day interview in which he hit out at the tripartite alliance, saying it was dead.
He went on to say those who still had faith in the “dead” tripartite alliance between the ANC, Cosatu and the SACP were delusional. The alliance existed in name only.
Motlanthe also said the ANC was made up mostly of members and leaders “devoid of the kind of political ability and consciousness required to maintain a united and non-racial society”.
Zuma told delegates: “These comrades were part of the leadership, some of them were secretary-generals.”
Motlanthe was secretary-general of the ANC during Thabo Mbeki’s presidency.
He subsequently served as interim president following Mbeki’s resignation.
At the 2012 Mangaung elective conference he unsuccessfully challenged Zuma for the position of party president.
Zuma kept firing salvos, saying it was former leaders who criticised the ANC who were responsible for weakening the organisation.
“When they were here we didn’t see that wisdom. Others were pastors and I don’t understand why they comment on matters regarding politics.”
Zuma warned those “outside the ANC for whatever reason” to “keep quiet”.
Delegates ululated and applauded as Zuma lashed out at critics.
He said he regretted teaching politics to those who now criticised the party. “We are not going to tolerate this for too long.”
He told delegates ordinary people were not interested in factional battles or who will assume leadership roles after the conference.
“Therefore, their only interest is in whether or not the ANC that will emerge out this conference is capable of fulfilling their legitimate expectations of a better life.”
Zuma said the challenges the party faced were not new.
He said KwaZulu-Natal, where the ANC enjoys its biggest support, must get its act together to inspire confidence in South Africans. – Weekend Argus