‘I take offence’, says Tito Mboweni of ‘noisy’ Sipho Pityana

Former governor of the SA Reserve Bank Tito Mboweni has come out swinging against Sipho Pityana after the comments the business executive and long-time ANC member made against President Jacob Zuma.

Pityana launched another scathing attack on the president on Thursday. Speaking at the Cape Town press club, the businessman and founder of the ‘Save South Africa’ movement, said that Zuma was the worst president the ANC had ever had.

He said the state of the nation address this month “will be delivered by a head of state with absolutely no respect for the Constitution of his own country – a head of state who disregards the courts and institutions of his own democracy‚ such as Parliament and Chapter 9 institutions”.

Mboweni believes, however, that this all noise and Pityana should rather participate in debates in ANC branches. The top ANC member says he takes offence at people who “rubbish the entire ANC”.

He says that the ruling party is the only organisation that can lead black people, and that this week’s by-elections victory for the ANC is testament to this. The ANC won all four municipalities it contested, including a hotly contested Mestimaholo ward.

“Sipho Pityana is noisy! ANC activists are at the branch meetings making progressive inputs. At the branch, we debate issues, not at funerals!”

He was referring to the fact that Pityana first came to public attention for “roasting” Zuma during a eulogy he gave at the funeral of Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile last year in August.

Mboweni added: “I take offense when people rubbish the entire ANC. I also take offense when our President behaves badly. I support him when he does good.

“Those who seek to destroy the ANC are missing the point. The ANC is the only vehicle that can lead black people forward. Don’t be fooled!

“ANC LIVES! Look at the recent results of ward elections! The movement is NOT an individual. It is a huge organization of the People. Get it?”