POLITICAL leadership is not like a beauty contest, and as such cowards and populists don’t survive.
As a leader you must know that you will not be loved by all, but that should not prevent you from being firm and decisive.
That was the message of the ANC’s Musa Dladla Regional Chairperson Thulani Mashaba, speaking at the uMhlathuze Sub-Regional Conference at Hlanganani Hall, eSikhaleni at the weekend.
Mashaba said he has been subjected to all sort of missiles for adhering to the oath and the constitution of the ANC.
‘I have been called all sort of names such as ‘UNgange-Region,’ for abiding by the constitution of the ANC, but I’m still standing.’
He raised his concerns about what he called ‘elements of disunity’ within the ANC in the region, even long after the 2014 Regional Conference.
‘It is disturbing, comrades, to note that despite numerous efforts and programmes that the current Regional Executive Committee (REC) has done to make peace with those disgruntled individuals, we are still on the receiving end.
‘It is like we committed a crime by being elected to lead this region.
‘Some of our comrades have openly distinguished themselves as a shadow REC.
‘We were shocked to see them in Mtubatuba during the recent by-elections, acting as party agents, without consulting us.
‘They hold meetings, discussing about the current REC. All these are foreign tendencies which have room in the ANC.
Social network
‘The abuse of social network is also a cause for concern.
‘Comrades are still hurling insults on Facebook, even though we pleaded with them to stop this nonsense.
‘Our focus is to reclaim Ward 13 and Ward 15 which were stolen from us by the independents here in uMhlathuze.’
Mashaba also used the occasion to distance himself from political interference at the City of uMhlathuze, as was alleged by the former Mayor Elphas Mbatha.
‘I know that many of you might be wondering if my wife did benefit from the supposedly R115-million tender.
‘I want to state categorically that my wife’s hands are clean. She was never involved in this fiasco.
‘I think this was just sour grapes on the part of the former Mayor, but the less we say about him the better.’
The conference saw the election of current Speaker for the City of uMhlathuze, Mfundo Mthenjana emerging as the new Chairperson.
The other elected office bearers of uMhlathuze Sub-Regional Committee were Dumisani Ndimande (Deputy Chairperson), Zitho Motha (Secretary), Nelly Mabuyakhulu (Deputy Secretary) and Sifiso ‘Jomo’ Biyela (Treasurer).
Completing the Sub-Regional Committee members were Pinky Cele, Bongi Mabaso, Busisiwe Khanyile, Sisana Lembede and Thembinkosi Mthembu.
