Johannesburg - Outspoken politician Makhosi Khoza, a fierce critic of President Jacob Zuma, quit the African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday, leaving the ruling party with this parting shot: "Goodbye new alien and corrupt ANC, I quit."
Khoza, who was facing disciplinary action from the KwaZulu-Natal ANC for refusing to bow to instructions to not talk out against the President, said the party she joined at the age of 12 in 1982 was a far cry from the current ANC which she said protects corruption.
"I have decided that I will no longer tap dance with the deadly, greedy hyenas and wolves. I have come to realise that decolonising, reconstructing, reconfiguring, reconciling, and growing South Africa cannot be pursued on an amoral and immoral platform," she said addressing journalists at the Liliesleaf farm in Johannesburg.
"I will not be led by leaders who have lost legitimacy and credibility. I will not be led by leaders who are corrupt and tolerant of corruption. I will not."
The ruling party, which lost support in most major metros in last year's local government elections, would not self-correct, said Khoza.
"This ANC will not self-correct because the politics of patronage run deeper than roots to the core of the earth. Corruption has been institutionalised," she said.
"If we were to prosecute all known corrupt cases including those implicated in the Gupta e-mails, almost 80 – 90 percent of the ANC leadership at all levels of government would have to replace their shiny tailored suits and pretty dresses with orange overalls."
Khoza said she has sent a letter to ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, informing him of her decision.
Her resignation from the party means she will lose her seat as an ANC MP. She made it clear she was not joining the oppostion Democratic Alliance, saying she will now focus on work in the civil society sector.
“I’m also going to be working very closely with civil society organisations such as Corruption Watch, South African Women’s Collective, Save South Africa and all those civil society organisations.”
Khoza has been an vociferous critic of Zuma and his fitness to lead the ANC.
Her provocative behaviour has earned Khoza many critics but has also seen her garner a large group of supporters who posted encouraging messages on twitter following her announcement.