Cape Town – ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has criticised former President Jacob Zuma for leaving the party and supporting the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
Mbalula addressed ANC supporters at a rally in KwaZulu-Natal, dismissing Zuma’s ambitions for a two-thirds majority in the upcoming elections.
“I hear people say they want a two-thirds majority, but how will you get it when you never gave us. If you want a two-thirds majority you have to have the trust of all South Africans.
“We last had a two-thirds majority with Thabo Mbeki. We haven’t gotten it since. This two-thirds majority will come from the African National Congress,” Mabalula said.
[WATCH] Siyayidumisa I African National Congress! #ANCManifestoLaunch #MayihlomeRally#RegisterToVoteANC https://t.co/DEWUcKns5X pic.twitter.com/1iRrSpNGk4
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) February 21, 2024
He emphasised the need for trust from all South Africans.
Mbalula urged members not to be violent and expressed disappointment in Zuma’s departure, saying that leaders come and go, but the ANC must remain.
“He took the spear and stabbed himself with it. You can’t leave to work with the enemy and then say you are fixing the ANC. The enemy is happy, the enemy has never loved us [and] the enemy is rejoicing.
“They want us divided so that they can infiltrate us. When we are divided, when we are done killing each other, they will take the country and take it wherever they want to take it. That’s not a struggle,” said Mbalula.
[WATCH] Leaders come and go, but the African National Congress must remain! #ANCManifestoLaunch #MayihlomeRally https://t.co/DEWUcKnZVv pic.twitter.com/UOtQqN4Q0l
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) February 21, 2024
He dismissed Zuma’s claims of fixing the ANC from the outside, saying that joining the MK party was working with the enemy, and accused individuals of joining the new party for personal gain and positions in Parliament.
“Msoholozi had his time, we fought for him, placed him in the Union Buildings [despite] his charges and made him president of this country.
“After nine years, a new president came in… [Cyril] Ramaphosa’s tenure will also come to an end and another president will come on, but no matter what happens the African National Congress will stay.
“Leaders come and go, but the ANC must remain and that’s what important. You don’t leave the ANC because you have problems. Also us, we have problems, who doesn’t have problems? Who will solve those problems? We will solve those problems,” said Mbalula.
The ANC-MK trademark dispute is set to be heard in the Electoral Court on March 19.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
