Boos as rift in ANC apparent

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

ANC Limpopo chairman Cassel Mathale holds the partys centenary flame. To his right is provincial secretary Soviet Lekganyane, with ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa to his left. Photo: Moloko Moloto

As the ANC prepares for its national elective conference in December, divisions seemed to widen at its centenary celebration in Polokwane on Sunday.

ANC national executive member Joe Phaahla, national spokesman Jackson Mthembu and the deputy chairman of the ANC in Limpopo, Dickson Masemola, were booed by supporters of ANC presidential hopeful Kgalema Motlanthe.

ANC members also demanded, in songs, the reinstatement of axed ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

The three leaders are seen to be sympathetic to President Jacob Zuma, who seeks to be re-elected in Mangaung.

Although Phaahla and Mthembu are known to be longtime allies of Zuma’s, Masemola has recently come under attack from the ANCYL, which has openly accused him of betrayal. Last week, provincial youth leader Rudzani Ludere said Masemola was campaigning for Zuma, in defiance of the province’s resolution to support Motlanthe.

Limpopo premier and provincial party chairman Cassel Mathale is sympathetic to Malema and opposes Zuma’s drive to be elected for a second term.

On Sunday, Mathale received the centenary flame from his Gauteng counterpart Paul Mashatile at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The flame will tour the province this month before it goes to North West.

In his address at the event, ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa admitted that the ANC leadership, of which he forms part, was divided.

“A divided leadership of the movement aimed at securing leadership will not inspire nor realise service delivery,” Phosa said.

“We need to be united if we are to achieve our goal. We need to recommit ourselves to the government, to our ANC that is bigger than one person.”

Phosa, who is also suspected to be gunning for Zuma’s removal, tacitly slammed the president’s “second transition” concept.

“Our people will not eat slogans, they will not eat beautiful policies, they will not eat promises,” said Phosa. Discussions were meaningless if they failed to lead to service delivery.

Phosa said that while certain issues would be discussed in Mangaung, some needed to be corrected now.

“We cannot keep quiet when our children have no books in the classrooms. We will say to our minister (Angie Motshekga), give us the books so that we can learn and get the skills, and be economically free,” he added.

moloko.moloto@inl.co.za

The Star