Former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, who has been closely linked with an ANC breakaway party, says he will first consult Mosiuoa Lekota and the ANC before making up his mind about which way to jump.
Shilowa resigned as premier last week after protesting against the firing of former president Thabo Mbeki. He was the first leader to warn that ministers would resign from the Cabinet if Mbeki was toppled.
Since then his name has constantly come up whenever the new initiative is mentioned.
Shilowa told the Mail & Guardian this week that ANC chairperson and new Premier Paul Mashatile had contacted him to say he wanted to meet him over his unhappiness.
This appears to be part of a Luthuli House strategy which entails the provincial party chairperson reaching out to disgruntled members in every province.
But Shilowa also said he would meet Lekota to find out more about the initiative, suggesting he could still be part of this group.
He said if the new party is based only on protest against the current ANC leadership, it will not work.
”To start a new party is a hard slog. It needs infrastructure and resources, both human and capital. It must have national appeal rather than regional or provincial feel.
”What also makes it a hard slog is that everything turns on the work you do on the ground.
”And we must be clear, if any leader leaves the ANC it is not a breakaway on its own.”
Although Shilowa is critical of developments in the ANC, he said he accepted the new leadership of the party unequivocally.
He reacted angrily to suggestions that he and Cabinet members who resigned had shown that they were more loyal to Mbeki than to government and the ANC.
”If it was Jacob Zuma who was president of the country and he was dealt with in the same manner as Mbeki, I have no doubt Cabinet members would have resigned as well.
”When people angry at the removal of Zuma [from the Cabinet] booed the president, burned T-shirts with his face, no action was taken. Those who felt injustice at the treatment of JZ continued to say so as legitimate members of the ANC. Their bona fides were not questioned.”