Durban - The National Freedom Party had become infiltrated by “greedy elements” with “venomous” tendencies, says its leader, Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi.
In a strongly worded speech, she lashed out at the “two-timing vultures” trying to unseat her.
This emerged at the weekend at the party’s fourth birthday celebrations.
Attempts to disrupt the event were prevented by security personnel at Vryheid’s Cecil Emmert Stadium.
As thousands of party supporters and members celebrated - in the absence of kaMagwaza-Msibi - on Saturday, security guards had to remove a handful of men chanting slogans against her.
Her daughter, Gugu Gumede, handed over a speech from kaMagwaza-Msibi, and a party official read it out.
In the speech, verified by kaMagwaza-Msibi’s husband, Mandla Msibi, the NFP boss, who is resting at home after her hospitalisation for what was reported to be a minor stroke last year, voiced her concerns.
“We unwittingly invited greedy elements with venomous tendencies into our ranks. These two-timing vultures have been nothing but opportunists who have cropped up with a solemn determination to undermine my leadership and your wishes as NFP members,” kaMagwaza-Msibi said in her speech. She labelled those sowing divisions in her party “power-mongers” whose aspirations to “fill” their pockets had replaced morals and comradely love.
The seeking of leadership positions was “clouded by evil hearts and desires to lead” even if it meant at the expense of the party, she said.
“This must be stopped. So long as corrupt and immoral leaders are represented in the upper echelons of our party, we will never be able to defeat the moral crisis that challenges us. Let’s throw them out of our organisation. They spend sleepless nights hatching plans to unseat me. They have focused their energies creating bogus branches so that their desires are fulfilled,” she said.
KaMagwaza-Msibi appealed to members to concentrate on next year’s local government elections and avoid back-stabbing and squabbling for positions.
“I urge you to defend the party at all costs. But in doing so, I must warn you to look after yourselves because your worst enemy could be someone within your own ranks.”
Meanwhile, the party provincial deputy chairman, Ericson Zungu, condemned the actions of the group of men who tried to disrupt the celebrations, saying it was embarrassing.
He said the unruly behaviour was fuelled by alcohol, and he did not believe the group were card-carrying party members.
Zungu said he also did not believe the speech was written by kaMagwaza-Msibi.
“There is protocol in the party. The fact that the speech bypassed the party national chairperson, Maliyakhe Shelembe and secretary-general, Professor Nhlanhla Khubisa, implied that the relationship was not good between the leaders and the president,” he said.
“I believe that someone wrote the letter to give credence to the allegations that there are people who want to overthrow the president. Our constitution allows for the president to run for two terms uncontested. To remove the president before the end of those terms would mean amendments are to be made in the constitution,” Zungu said.
“There would have to be voting and all nine provinces would have to be consulted.
“We are not worried about the allegations because they are cheap politicking.”
Daily News