Former ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli
Former presidents of the ANC making public endorsements on internal contestestation risk diminishing their own stature, said the former ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli.
Ntuli, who is in the race for the ANC secretary general position, made the comment during an interview that included questions about former president Jacob Zuma entering the fray to try to influence branches into backing his former wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for the position of ANC president.
Ntuli said he did not agree with Zuma’s actions. “It diminishes the standing and the prestige of that leader of the ANC because given the seniority that they occupy in the movement these are comrades that would be expected from time to time to rein in the sitting leadership when it veers off.”
Ntuli was referencing Zuma’s statement last week in which he threw his hat into the ANC leadership contest ring by telling party branches that he was available for the position of national chairperson of the party.
Zuma went further to endorse Dlamini-Zuma as party president, saying he had not shifted from the position he had taken in 2017 about the most suitable candidate to lead the party.
Ntuli said that part of the problem was the ANC had not defined a role for former ANC presidents and suggested that they be part of the day-to-day running of the ANC and the state.
“These are veterans. The limitations we have now is that they should be belonging to the veterans league. I think given the experience that they have acquired over a period of time and the role they have played in the highest leadership responsibility ever given to them at the level of being presidents of the party [they could be better used].”
Zuma’s statement was considered by some ANC leaders as opportunistic. The letter was well timed because branches are still deliberating on who should lead the party. The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal — Zuma’s home province — ignored Zuma by pronouncing support for Zweli Mkhize as party president on the same day Zuma sent the letter.
Zuma’s endorsement of Dlamini-Zuma could solidify support for her among branches and regions where the former president still has backing.
In what could be viewed as a jab at Mkhize, the disgraced former health minister, Zuma said he found it strange that the majority of contenders being discussed were those who had supported Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2017 Nasrec conference.
“I have heard some few comrades raising some issues with regards to [Dlamini-Zuma], but unfortunately they all failed to present a better candidate with better credentials than hers except those who have a lot of money.”
Zuma also repeated allegations of votes being bought at the Nasrec conference, saying delegates there had been “overwhelmed by a lot of money” instead of being guided by political conscience.
Ntuli said former ANC leaders who expressed their views on leadership contestation were not acting in the best interests of the ANC.
“When [former presidents] criticise the leadership, it must happen in an environment where none of those who are being reined in will doubt their bona fides because they would not have expressed a view of who should be considered for election in the position of president or any other position for that matter.”
Another former ANC president, Thabo Mbeki, has also been criticised for his public statements over the failure of the Ramaphosa administration in handling the energy crisis.
In September, ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe called out Mbeki for appearing to project his tenure as clean.
Mantashe added that retired ANC leaders had a responsibility to assist those who are in leadership.
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