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Carl Niehaus’ ‘movement’ seen as bid to weaken ANC, Ramaphosa
Political analyst Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast said the formation of the movement would weaken the ANC and was meant to destabilise Ramaphosa’s presidency.
Former ANC member Carl Niehaus. (Photo by Gallo Images/Volksblad/Mlungisi Louw)
Former ANC member Carl Niehaus’ proposed “political movement” could be an attempt to destabilase President Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency, a political analyst says.
The assessment came after Niehaus announced yesterday he planned to form what he called a political movement that would work for the liberation of South Africans.
Niehaus said his reasons for forming a political movement rather than a political party were driven by the reasons that the ANC was no longer the ANC he joined 43 years ago.
“This ANC is dead, it is gone and it no longer stands for the ideals I joined it for.
“I do not recognise this organisation anymore,” he said.
Niehaus said he and other people were still having a conversation about developing a movement which would pursue the fundamental ideals he joined the ANC for.
“It is not yet a political party, although we may end up there, but it is for the future and for
consultations. It is not at this stage that I am creating a new party,” Niehaus said.
In a Podcast interview with The Citizen later last year, Niehaus warned the ANC would die if it failed to elect new leadership at the elective conference.
LISTEN: ‘New leadership needed or the ANC will die’ – Niehaus
“I can’t tell you what the name will be because that is part of the consultations.
“I am also not going to start giving names of who will join the movement but in due course,
those names will become available.”
Niehaus also said his proposed movement was not a breakaway party by ANC members.
In 2007, the Congress of the People (Cope) was formed by disgruntled ANC members who were unhappy that Jacob Zuma had won the ANC presidency at the Polokwane conference.
“There is no comparison between Cope and this movement,” said Niehaus.
Niehaus is known to be close to Zuma and former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule. Both have been vocal in critiquing the way the ANC has been led since Ramaphosa became the party president.
Niehaus said he did consult the pair on leaving the ANC, but he did not ask for permission to leave.
“I told them I’ve reached the point where I can’t stay and they said to me they understand where I was coming from and they were not going to tell me not to do that,” he said.
“I did not ask them if they were going to stay in the ANC or not.
“That is a choice they must make individually. In the future, I am going to talk to president Zuma and comrade Ace and many other people about this future movement.”
Niehaus was expelled from the ANC shortly before the ANC’s national elective conference in December last years.
Political analyst Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast said the formation of the movement would weaken the ANC and was meant to destabilise Ramaphosa’s presidency.
Beakfast said the ANC was dealt with a blow in local government in terms of its electoral performance and Niehaus’ move would compound the situation.
“He cannot stand that his enemies are in power. The fact that Ramaphosa has won is a nail in the coffin for [Niehaus’] political career,” Breakfast said.
VIDEO: Here’s the ANC’s top 7 officials – Ramaphosa re-elected president
Breakfast says he does not believe Niehaus made this decision unilaterally, or without the knowledge of other political players.
“He was one of the faces of radical economic transformation (RET) and these are the very same people who formed the African Transformation Movement (ATM),” said Breakfast.
“ATM was established when Ramaphosa ascended to the helm of power to oppose him in parliament.
“That had negative consequences because the ANC did not do well in the 2019 elections and the forces of RET have a strong footprint in KwaZulu-Natal, so I am sure there might have been people who blessed this move.”
Breakfast says he believes Niehaus’ political movement would evolve into a political party.
“The aim is to pose a threat to Ramaphosa because it looks like they have lost the battle surrounding the issue of Phala Phala,” Breakfast added.
NOW READ: Ta-ta, Carl: ANC expels Niehaus for good
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