Kaunda Selisho

By Kaunda Selisho

Journalist


ANC’s list of potential MPs is weak and does not inspire confidence – Motlanthe

The former president has some tough advice for his party about how it can right its wrongs.


Former president and  ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe has made a lot of harsh utterances against his own party in a recent interview with the Sunday Times.

Motlanthe has been on a publicity run following his foundation’s launch of its Inclusive Growth report which painted a bleak picture of the country’s future.

According to EWN, the report was compiled by a number of academics, professionals, and civil society members and handed over to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni for presentation to the president.

In addition to calling the ANC’s list of potential MPs “weak” and saying it “did not inspire confidence,” Motlanthe said “the ANC it needs a surgical overhaul from where it is now” and that it will have to lose power for it to renew itself.

READ NEXT: Kgalema Motlanthe’s vote stays with ANC – Western Cape ANC

As such, Motlanthe said he did not believe Ramaphosa was a messiah who could save the party.

“I don’t believe in messianic figures. I believe that first and foremost we’ve got to have a capable state. Because governments – when you refer to a head of state – [they] come and go. Every five years, theoretically, each time we go to elections we may end up with a different government. But your state has got to remain stable [and] capable, with institutional memory,”Motlanthe told the publication.

On his list of solutions for the party’s redemption is the suggestion that the ANC open up it’s parliamentary list to people from all walks of life.

He believes this, implemented alongside a ban of individuals implicated in corruption and arrested for serious crimes would inspire confidence in the people, thus resulting in more votes for the ANC.

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