More veterans of the revered African National Congress (ANC) have, in a petition, expressed their discontent at the shenanigans in the ruling party and by extension, the country. They will hold a press conference this week to further publicise their concerns.
They said the petition, For the Sake of Our Future, dated 27 October and fronted by among others, Cheryl Carolus, Frank Chikane, Sydney Mufamadi and Murphy Morobe, derives from their commitment to the ANC and to the future of a united, prosperous, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
The statement said that they remain devoted to the hallmark, principles and values of the ANC which have been in place for over 100 years and are encapsulated in the country’s Constitution and the Freedom Charter.
They feel marginalised from adding value to the process of introspection in the party. “Collectively and as individuals we have, by letter, attempted to engage with the President of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, and members of the National Executive Committee in an attempt to correct many of the ills in the organisation. Regrettably, the Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe has opted to focus on administrative and structural internal processes of the movement and shows lack of awareness of the urgency we feel is needed,” the statement read.
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The statement added that the pace of events in the ANC, government and civil society have severely limited many ANC members from engaging and raising their concerns and potential solutions through the party’s normal internal processes and largely dysfunctional structures. “There is simply not the time for the majority of party members to understand and support any initiative made to strengthen the party, government and parliament to ensure the necessary corrections take place, before it is too late.”
The petition’s intention faces understandable criticism which, they said, was from those who do not have the best interests of the party and country at heart.
They said their intention was part historical and part evolutionary, and would help the party grow in stature and withstand challenges through good leadership. They said introspection and honest self-criticism need to be witnessed by the public and the international community, adding that the trust between the party and communities is now severely under threat. “Communities which looked to the ANC for leadership and service, increasingly see only self-enrichment, corruption, nepotism and the abuse of power, which erode the moral high ground that the ANC enjoyed.”
The petitioners also pledge solidarity with the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan and the South African Revenue Service officials, Oupa Magashula and Ivan Pillay, who face corruption charges by the National Prosecution Agency (NPA) which are said to be unfounded. They urged the NPA and other agencies to rather focus on real cases of corruption and the misuse of public funds. “We urge all members of the ANC to support the three accused at the Pretoria Regional Court on 2 November. No stalwart believing in the historical values of the ANC can abstain from this issue.”
Details: sakeofourfuture@gmail.com
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