Makhosi Khoza backtracks, says ‘it is not about going back to the ANC’

Dr Makhosi Khoza tweeted on Wednesday that she would “have to think hard” about rejoining the governing African National Congress (ANC) following the postponement of the swearing in of the party’s MPs, including David Mabuza and Nomvula Mokonyane.

Mabuza and Mokonyane were meant to be sworn in on Wednesday, with the former expected to resume his position as deputy president.

Party president Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly, however, taken seriously a report by the ANC’s integrity committee that flagged Mabuza and among 22 others problematic candidates.

In a statement, Mabuza said he wanted to first deal with the report that found him to have brought the ANC into disrepute.

However, ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe confirmed that Mokonyane’s decision not to take up her position was as a result of “family responsibilities” and her being in mourning.

Khoza tweeted that it appeared as if the governing party’s Integrity Committee was “serious about rooting out corruption”.

“If CR [Cyril Ramaphosa] deals decisively with corruption, ANC can at last count on us. I left the ANC cos (sic) [because] it had become alien and corrupt. If this changes I’ll have to think hard,” Khoza tweeted.

Khoza left the governing party after a very public squabble about the ANC’s lack of action over corruption and her dislike of former president Jacob Zuma. She started her own political party – the ADeC – and then left to work with civil rights organisation Outa. She resigned from Outa this year to return to ADeC.

However, Khoza later tweeted that it was not about rejoining the governing party.

“The ANC has to redefine its mission if is (sic) to be relevant. At this stage, it is all about support efforts to fix RSA and rooting out corruption. We must be patient. Let’s give it six to twelve months.”

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