Heed veteran concerns – Mkhize

The issue of the number of ruling party representatives voting the way they did in last week’s Parliamentary processes, pertaining to a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma, being completely unexpected was alluded to by African National Congress (ANC) Treasurer-General Zweli Mhkize when speaking at a business breakfast of the ANC Veterans League (ANCVL) in Limpopo at a venue outside Polo­kwane on Friday.
To the veterans in the audience, who included members of the then Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Luthuli Detachment, he said their contribution to the struggle had been immense and immeasurable and it was always sad that while living among the structures of the ANC they never had enough time for people to hear about their experiences and contributions. He continued saying they felt the concerns that were being raised by the veterans when they were of the opinion a lot needed to be corrected in the movement, adding that he believed it was a call members had to heed.
In a later interview with Polo­kwane Observer, Mkhize addressed a question about the outcome of the process in Parliament, saying that the ANC’s position was that it was important for the motion, which he described as the eighth against the President put by the opposition as part of their tactics to dislodge the ANC, to be defeated. The matter of the defeated motion was closed, he indicated and said what needed to be addressed was how they were managing issues so that when expectations were not met they looked at the problem, he indicated.
Asked about a message to their cadres in the province expressing concern about the situation in the ANC as well as the outcome of the vote of no confidence and a question as to whether the ruling party could withstand the onslaughts, he responded saying when dealing with challenges one couldn’t just give up, but what needed to be done was to always look for solutions and be hopeful that it would be resolved. That was really based on the fact that the ANC had done a thorough analysis of challenges that have been identified and challenges that needed to be solved and when they approached them they did it with the understanding that they haven’t got options but to solve those problems, Mkhize explained.
Asked whether the country and the ANC were set for accepting a female president, Mkhize responded saying South Africa was ready for any president that the ANC would elect. It had to be someone who would match the challenges the country and organisation faced and no one had to be pushed back because of gender, he reckoned.
Solly Mkhatshwa, who is on the communications team of ANCVL in the province, afterwards confirmed that R200 000 in pledges have been made during the occasion.
A Moses Kotane memorial lecture that would have been held at Jack Botes hall that evening was postponed to a date to be announced.

Story & photos: YOLANDE NEL
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