The country needs a strong tripartite alliance led by the ANC, President Jacob Zuma said at a gala dinner in Kimberley on Friday.
“We continue to work together as alliance partners to further the goals of both the movement and its government,” he told businessmen, diplomats and ANC leadership at a hall, decked with the ANC’s black, green and gold, in Galeshewe, Kimberley.
“Do not be troubled by what appears to be turbulence at times,” he said as the audience applauded.
The ANC’s anniversary celebration comes barely a month after a South African Communist Party conference in which the party’s youth league president Julius Malema and national executive committee member Billy Masethla were booed.
The youth league criticised SACP leaders for failing to act when the incident occurred.
The ANC “called on all members to refrain from fuelling tensions and to allow for the NEC to raise its displeasure with the SACP”.
The incident fuelled perceptions of strained relations within the alliance of the ANC, SACP, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African National Civics Organisation.
Zuma said the alliance was a “dynamic and very vibrant organ with thinking members who have strong views.
“They will from time to time express those views in a manner that raises temperatures, but that does not mean that there is conflict or deep divisions within the alliance.
“However we have naturally impressed upon members to ensure that the debates take place in a disciplined fashion.”
The country needed a “strong, united and focused ANC”, he told the audience.
“It needs an ANC that can continue to uphold and promote the Constitution of this country. The country needs an ANC that remains in touch with the masses of its people, which understands what they are going through, what they want and what solutions they see for the problems they face.”
Zuma is set to deliver the annual January 8 statement on Saturday which he said would reflect on goals set in 2009 and to assess the party’s progress.
Hostess for the evening, Top Billing‘s Ursula Chikane, kicked off the evening with a playful dig at Malema, calling him “Juju Baby”. Malema sat at Zuma’s table with Northern Cape Premier Hazel
Jenkins and traditional leaders.
Johnny Walker Blue was on sale at the bar for R2 700 a bottle, while a bottle of 15-year-old Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky could be enjoyed for R1 100 a bottle or R45 a glass. – Sapa