NDZ camp slates Mantashe over ‘crises’ tweet

African National Congress presidential contender Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has responded to the views expressed by the party’s secretary-general Gwede Mantashe that the ANC should follow its tradition of handing over power to its deputy president to become its next leader.

Dlamini-Zuma has taken a swipe at Mantashe, saying “anyone who predicts chaos in the ANC when the branches are exercising their democratic right, is not a true cadre of the ANC”.

On Sunday, Mantashe took to Twitter stating that it would be in the best interests of the governing party to follow its presidential tradition. He said should President Jacob Zuma resist to hand over power to his deputy and Dlamini-Zuma’s rival, Cyril Ramaphosa, there would be crises in the ANC.

“The [ANC] constitution guides us very clearly and we must not be confused. It tells us which positions are available for election. Even if you want the incumbent, they should still be elected,” Dlamini-Zuma said speaking at an ANC Cadres Forum gathering in Empangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.

“As a disciplined ANC member, ANC elections are a democratic process that is done by the branches of the ANC. Anyone who predicts chaos in the ANC when the branches are exercising their democratic right is not a true cadre of the ANC.”

Disputed ANC KZN chairperson Sihle Zikalala also took a dig the secretary-general, saying those who are “predicting chaos” in the party are trying to instigate chaos.

“We as members of the ANC will need to be very very vigilant and not be provoked by people who will sound as alarmists serving agents provocateurs. That is totally out of order and wrong. There will be no chaos,” Zikalala charged.

He said there were numerous instances in the ANC where deputies had not been elected to the presidential position. Zikalala also said Mantashe, as the ANC’s secretary-general, should not be seen as favouring one group in the party over another.

“We cannot have a secretary-general of a mass democratic movement to have a view that is one sided where its members have different views. I am saying this so that we understand the ANC. The leadership of the ANC must ensure that all different opposing views are allowed,” Zikalala said.

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