Cape Town - Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said the “poverty” of ideas within the leadership of the ANC was making South Africa go “astray”.
Speaking at the memorial service of the former Eastern Cape premier Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile in East London on Monday, Jonas said the ANC was fast losing its values and trust among the people.
He was speaking In his capacity as family representative during the memorial service held at Abbotsford Christian Centre outside East London.
“Bro Stof”, as he was affectionately known, died at his home in Alice in the Eastern Cape last Monday following a short illness.
Jonas, who made headlines in March after he said the Gupta family had offered him a job to be finance minister shortly before the sacking of the then minister Nhlanhla Nene, said South Africa was at the crossroads because of the politics of “individuals” within the ANC.
“More than ever we need the people of Comrade Stof’s calibre to rescue our movement as it is going astray. Our country is at crossroads. Whether you looking at economy or education, our country is just not doing well,” said Jonas.
He said Stofile was worried at the direction the country was taking.
“He was also deeply saddened by the state of affairs in Cosatu because he always defended the alliance on the premise that the alliance was very critical in the struggle to emancipate the people of South Africa.
“He was deeply disappointed with the recent phenomenon of politics of individuals. He used to refer to that as the cult of personality. He said that’s probably the essence of what is going to kill the ANC,” said Jonas.
Charles Nqakula, a former cabinet minister, said Stofile was the humble servant of the people of South Africa.
Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle, who is also ANC provincial chairman, said Stofile called him before his death. “He was in the company of veteran leaders of the ANC and he told me that they were not pleased with the affairs of our movement,” said Masualle.
Cape Argus