Cape Town — The leader of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), Colleen Malatji, has compared the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party to a cult.
Former ANC and South African President, Jacob Zuma, announced last year that he would not be campaigning for the ANC in the upcoming elections, instead endorsing the MK party and voting for them instead.
His decision sent shockwaves through the ANC hierarchy as fears were raised that some of Zuma’s staunch supporters would defer to the new party. According to Malatji, Zuma should be helping to fix the damage he has caused amongst the ANC, saying he has created a “cult organisation” in the MK party, SABC News wrote.
“It’s unfair for President Zuma after he has caused so much damage to the image of the ANC, he decides to leave the ANC when he is supposed to be fixing the damage that he has caused. And we believe that it is selfish from him to create a cult organisation that is designed to cater to tribal politics.” he said
“That’s very sad, especially from a person that the ANC has supported and believed in, not only supported but also trained,” Malatji added.
Some opposition parties are happy with the formation of the new party, claiming they can help to reduce support for the ANC.
“We are delighted with the arrival of MK, particularly in this province (Gauteng), because any vote that gets taken from the ANC makes our job a lot easier to be able to form a majority, so MK was a late Christmas present for us, and we look forward to watching them cannabilise the ANC from the inside,” DA leader John Steenhuisen, said.
The ANC should be worried about losing some of their followers, as many now speak about the ANC nostalgically, not so much as a party to take the country forward.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
