INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

ANC party's National Treasure General Mathews Phosa. Photo: Boxer Ngwenya

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and treasurer-general Mathews Phosa have kissed and made up since their public falling-out last week.

ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete convened a meeting between Phosa and Mantashe last Wednesday.

The Star understands that Mbete had insisted the two meet to discuss their differences, but Phosa said on Wednesday he had asked for the meeting.

This followed Mantashe having released a statement rebuking Phosa for his comments on ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema and the government’s intervention in Limpopo.

Phosa, who had not commented on the stand-off, said on Wednesday that although Mbete had been present at the meeting, it was not true that she had called the two to sit down in an attempt to resolve the tension.

He said the matter had been laid to rest and that he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

“I’ve got no issues,” said Phosa.

Mantashe refused to speak to The Star on Wednesday, saying he felt his views had not been represented in the article published last week.

Speaking to The Star last week, Mantashe said his statement, sent out last Tuesday, was meant “to remind us of the principles that guide the ANC”.

ANC leaders needed to be cognisant of the fact that their utterances could be given a “spin”, and that their statements must be “consistent with the principles that guide all of us, everybody”.

“We must be extra cautious with what we are saying,” Mantashe added.

He said that during a meeting of the ANC’s top six officials on Monday last week, they had discussed, among other things, “the issue of the treasurer-general of the ANC on the comments he made during the centenary celebrations in Limpopo”.

Mantashe said in the statement “it was not correct” for any national official – who include President Jacob Zuma, his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe, Mbete, Mantashe, his deputy Thandi Modise, and Phosa – to comment on the disciplinary action against the youth leaders because it could be interpreted as trying to influence the outcome.

On Phosa’s comments on the Limpopo intervention, Mantashe said in the statement: “Our role as officials may be to ask for reports and not condemn a correct decision that seeks to improve public administration,” especially since, as the ANC, “we are responsible to reinforce good governance and accountable administration”. - Political Bureau