Zuma: ANC has links with traditional leaders

President Jacob Zuma. Photo: Elmond Jiyane

President Jacob Zuma. Photo: Elmond Jiyane

Published Jan 9, 2016

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Rustenburg – The ANC has strong historical links with traditional leaders, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

“Traditional leaders played a key role in the establishment of the ANC. Many were honourary presidents of the ANC after its formation,” Zuma said at the ANC’s 104th anniversary gala dinner at Sun City, near Rustenburg in North West.

He said Zambian king Mwanawina was one of the honourary presidents of the ANC and had participated in its formation.

“Today [Friday], we have among us Mwanawina’s great grandson. He told me earlier that our link with Zambians did not stop after the ANC’s formation, but that one of the ANC presidents, Moroka, stayed in their home for some time when he visited Zambia.”

Earlier on Friday, the Congress of Traditional leaders of SA (Contralesa) told Zuma that traditional leaders lacked direct programmes with the ANC and that an urgent meeting with the ANC was needed.

“Remember ANC, if this institution [of traditional leaders] is weakened, the ANC will go down… For the ANC to be strong, it needs traditional leadership. We need direct programmes of interaction between the ANC and traditional leaders,” said North West Contralesa chairman Kesekwaile Motlhabane at the birthday cake cutting ceremony earlier.

“Mr President [Zuma], we need an urgent meeting with [the] ANC as Contralesa.”

Zuma later told Motlhabane that the relationship between Contralesa and the ANC was the same as that of a father and a son.

“The ANC is the father and Contralesa the son. So the son is crying to the father to attend to family relations. I am happy that this matter has been raised, we need this discussion now,” he said.

– African News Agency (ANA)

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