Johannesburg – Factionalism is a political problem found in every political system, African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Friday.
“Factionalism will be raised all the time; it is a challenge facing all political parties. We are trying to reverse it because it is a cancer and it can weaken or even kill an organisation,” Mantashe told reporters after presenting his organisational report at the ANC’s national general council (NGC) in Johannesburg.
The party bemoaned its declining membership, with President Jacob Zuma earlier blaming “tendencies such as gate-keeping, bulk buying of votes, and manipulation”, especially at branch levels.
In his report, Mantashe said the ANC, as part of its organisational renewal, should strengthen the tri-partite alliance.
“Unity continues to evade our structures, as factions are formalised instead of being confronted. Resources like air tickets and high-class hotel accommodation spent on factional meetings while the organisation is struggling financially, is a sign sign of factions getting emboldened while they are condemned everywhere, but with no consequences,” he said.
A remedy for factionalism was a strong organisation. Mantashe criticised infighting within the ANC, and said it caused many of the party’s structures to be removed from their constituencies.
“This leads to social distance between the organisation and the people. It is the self-centered cadres of the movement that makes our structures to weaken the duty to serve,” he said.
African News Agency