Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League on Thursday added its voice to mounting criticism levelled against veteran party leader Reverend Frank Chikane for making public comments about a “renewal” of the ANC ahead of the national general council (NGC).
Criticising Chikane, the ANCYL said while it welcomed robust debates within the structures of the ANC “we are, however, disappointed by the populist posturing by Cde Reverend Frank Chikane”.
Chikane this week said he hoped his document containing proposals for the renewal of the ANC would be placed on the agenda of the NGC, which starts Friday.
The reverend’s comments immediately drew rebuke from Gwede Mantashe who accused Chikane of “leaking” his document to the media.
The ANCYL said: “As a former ANC NEC [National Executive Committee] member, Rev Chikane knows that the tendency of leaking the discussion document to the media is unwise and reckless. It undermines the ANC and its loyal membership that is working hard to ensure that our movement grows from strength to strength”.
The NEC is the highest organ of the ANC between national conferences and has the authority to lead the organisation, subject to the provisions of the party’s Constitution.
Chikane was quoted by EWN as saying he has faith that the leadership of the ANC will address his concerns about its “renewal” for the sake of the future of the country.
“I’ve raised them with the detriments of the movement, especially within the Johannesburg area, and everybody says ‘that is our concern’. So I am hoping the leadership will hear me,” Chikane reportedly said.
But the ANCYL hit back saying: “For Reverend Frank Chikane to seek to present himself through the media as a troubleshooter capable of taking the organisation to greater heights is disingenuous, self-serving and opportunistic. Such action must be rejected and should not be assimilated.”
The Congress of South African Trade Unions which is part of the tripartite alliance with the ANC and the South African Communist Party has warned of premature talk of succession.
Recent media reports suggested that Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was a front runner.
Dlamini-Zuma, who is President Jacob Zuma’s former wife, is said to enjoy more support in the party than Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
However, the focus of the NGC is expected to be on policy reviews.
The ANCYL said: “The NGC is critical because it presents an opportunity to review the implementation of the 2012 Mangaung Conference resolutions, to assess what works and what doesn’t work and what we need to do further to build our organization and the country, to accelerate change, grow the economy, eradicate poverty and fight crime”.
ANA