The African National Congress (ANC) is going ahead with disciplinary action against Mosiuoa Lekota and Mluleki George, and will do the same to other dissidents, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday.
”The ANC will take disciplinary action against any ANC member who mobilises for the formation of a new organisation in opposition to the ANC,” Mantashe said in Johannesburg.
Lekota, the former party chairperson and defence minister, and his defence deputy George, have been suspended for accusing the party of moving away from its core values, and for being associated with speculation that a breakaway movement could be formed.
Mantashe would not elaborate on the charges they would have to answer to, saying it would be an irony to do so through the media (after Lekota criticised the party in an open letter).
The ANC would convene a regional general council where these decisions would be communicated, and would also work with alliance partners the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party on the matter.
He denied there was a split in the party, preferring to refer to it as dissidents or a splinter group.
”There is no split in the ANC, there are dissidents, it’s a big difference. The closest would be a splinter,” he said.
The ANC did not object to anyone forming a new party but ”you can’t use ANC resources and structures”, he said.
He said reports that businesspeople Saki Macozoma and Mzi Khumalo were behind Lekota’s and former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa’s planned national convention were just suspicions. Businesspeople could do what they liked with their money, even if they were ANC members.
”It is his money, he can sponsor anything,” he said.
Shilowa resigned as premier in solidarity with former president Thabo Mbeki, who was asked by the party to step down. Shilowa also resigned from the ANC this week and said he was throwing his weight behind Lekota’s planned convention, which may lead to a new party.
Mantashe said Mbeki had warned in 2004 that any threats to ANC would come from within the organisation or its alliances structures.
”That was prophetic in hindsight,” he said.
The party did not intend asking Mbeki where his loyalties lie.
”… We can’t go and enquire whether he is still loyal to the ANC. It can’t be done.”
He also quashed talk of an early election, saying it was not even discussed in Wednesday’s national executive committee meeting. — Sapa