President Cyril Ramaphosa meant business when he spoke at the Northern Cape provincial conference on Saturday, May 29. In his address, he called out behaviours of political members who have used rogue practices to benefit in the past, reports The Citizen.
Ramaphosa said that the African National Congress (ANC) is within its rights to call rogue members and leaders to order.
“Our movement is going through a period characterised by instances of ill-discipline and disrespect for organisational norms, values and resistance. This is expected. Any project of renewal and rebuilding will encounter resistance from those who benefited from the deviant practices of the past,” said the President.
“We are determined to execute the mandate given to us by the Nasrec conference. Delegates at that conference were clear when they said all ANC members must work harder together to unite and renew this glorious movement of our people.” said Ramaphosa further.
Ramaphosa says that unity in the ANC “does not mean closing ranks at all costs and at all times.”
“When a comrade is denigrating or attacking the ideals and mission of our movement, then we need to call that comrade to order – that is unity. Calling out wrong or deviant behaviour that demeans the standing of the ANC is protecting the ANC. Our renewal process must tell us that we want to protect the ANC – its standing, existence and effectiveness. It is a revolutionary imperative.
“When we see some of the leaders behaving in a manner that portrays a less than ideal understanding of the culture, values and principles … the ANC is a caring organisation but our care and understanding must not be misconstrued. We must arrive at a point where we will not tolerate deviant behaviour that undermines the standing of this glorious movement and its integrity. There is room for everyone who will abide by its mission.”
Meanwhile, the President is amidst a power struggle of his own with Ace Magashule.
Read also | ANC chaos: Suspended Ace Magashule suspends Cyril Ramaphosa
Earlier on Saturday, Northern Cape ANC chairperson and premier, Dr Zamani Saul made a clear reference to Magashule’s defiance. She said that out of 15 ANC former secretary- generals, it was the first time that the ANC was confronted with such a peculiar problem where the secretary-general was deeply compromised.
“So comrades, there are no historical lessons, on how best to deal with the current problem, because we do not have a history of a Secretary-General with a distorted logic about his role, thinking that he is above the organisation and its Constitution, above conference resolutions and above the NEC,” said Dr Zamani Saul.
Also presented by President Ramaphosa in his address were five “priority areas” for the ANC, as per News24. These include combatting COVID-19, setting the economy on a path of renewal and recovery, the renewal of the ANC, strengthening local government and building a “better Africa and a better world.”
Picture: Twitter