Remain steadfast, Zuma tells ANC members

African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma urged ANC members on Friday to remain steadfast in the principles and traditions of the movement.

“The ANC will never stray from the culture and traditions of our movement,” he said in a newsletter on the ANC website.

“We confirm that we will continue to draw inspiration from the lessons gained from the lives of comrades Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Joe Slovo, Beyers Naude, Braam Fischer, Chris Hani, Dorothy Nyembe, Florence Mophosho, Billy Nair and many others,” Zuma said.

“In memory of these heroes of our struggle, we urge all ANC members to remain steadfast in the principles and traditions of the movement.”

Zuma said party members should not be swayed into “negative action by the anger arising out of the new phenomenon” of some ANC members who were calling a convention to discuss the formation of a new political party.

“We wish the adventurists luck, and are pleased that many are coming out and are resigning from the ANC. We expect the convention to unmask many others who will hopefully also leave the ANC in peace without any further delay,” Zuma said.

“The ANC lives, it leads, it is strong, and it will lead this country for decades to come, depending on the will of the people as expressed in the Freedom Charter.”

The ANC remained unfazed by the occurrences of the past few weeks.

The ANC was not for the faint-hearted.

If it were, it would not have had leaders of the calibre of Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela, Zuma said.

Meanwhile, former president Nelson Mandela is not involved “in any way” in the national convention taking place this weekend, his foundation said on Friday.

“We note that an advert soliciting support for the South African National Convention quotes Nelson Mandela,” said Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Achmat Dangor.

“The organisers of the convention are, of course, entitled to quote utterances by Mr Mandela that are already in the public domain. We, however, want to point out that the inclusion of his words in this advert should not be construed as Mr Mandela being involved with this initiative in any way.

“He has asked not to be drawn into political debates and we trust that his wishes will be respected by all concerned,” said Dangor in a statement.

Former ANC chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota, who resigned from the ANC on Friday, is hosting a national convention to discuss the possibility of forming a breakaway party in Johannesburg on the weekend.—Sapa