Anele Mda caused ripples in political circles with her announcement last week she had returned to the African National Congress (ANC).
As a founding member of the Congress of the People (Cope), Mda was declared the party’s youth league leader and was dubbed a breath of fresh air and a match for ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.
However Mda became mired in controversy, giving rise to speculation she would lose her job.
She also called President Jacob Zuma a “rapist” after he was acquitted of the charge in 2006, something for which the party had to apologise for.
The rise and fall of Anele Mda
The Mail & Guardian spoke to Mda on her return to the ruling party, and about what Cope was like as an organisation.
M&G: What were the most challenging aspects of moving from the Cope to the ANC Youth League?
Anele Mda: Well, after I had taken the decision that I was now leaving Cope, the first thing which came to mind was the masses of people who have continued to hope one day things will be better. But I consoled myself with the idea that one day they will also get hit by the reality of the fact that Cope is no more. Another challenge was that of people who were going to judge, insult me and call me names, but I realised quickly that it was not possible for me to be everything to everyone. Wise people take decisions and change their minds when the need arises, but cowards don’t. I chose to accept that not everyone will be pleased so the decision was about me and I had to take it.
M&G: Were you approached, or did you approach the ANC or its youth movement?
AM: I realised that my future in politics remains relevant and I decided that I needed to activate my membership with the ANC as I could no longer feel confident that Cope was capable of doing anything in advancing what we believed was the cause of its formation. Instead, it proved to be a political chameleon which was neither progressive nor democratic in the true sense.
M&G: What are your roles now at the ANC and what do you plan to bring to the organisation?
AM: It feels so refreshing and humbling to be integrated into an organisation of this nature. I intend to be a member who participates as I used to and I am sure I have grown with time and will be used by the organisation as it deems fit.
M&G: What was Cope like as an organisation and what do you see in its future?
AM: In its initial stages it promised to be a party with potential whose direction would easily be seen as a potential government in waiting. A lot of things which were being articulated by Cope at the time resonated with many people in this country and placed people’s hopes of change in the palm of the hand of Cope. Sadly, all this proved to be a blackmail of an opportunistic formation whose existence was driven by self-serving old people who would not allow [themselves] to be led, nor would they bow to democratic principles. The future of Cope? Well, if there’s still anything left of it, those who are there will see what kind of future awaits them.
M&G: You were a founding member of Cope. Why did you decide to break away from the ANC and help build a new party?
AM: I believed in democracy and I still believe in it. Cope announced its arrival as champions of democracy and our Constitution, but it was worse to see the same party unable to live up to the very reason of its formation. Manipulation, blackmail and exploitation of people’s innocence, as well as loyalty to the party made Cope look more like a mafia club than a political party.
M&G: Was there anything that could have been done differently to get you to remain within Cope?
AM: No, the ANC voice was calling me and it was unavoidable. Remember, to grow in the ANC is not something one can easily throw away as if there are no footprints left. I could not even be tempted by the Parliament salary and its perks. I wanted to get myself out of Cope for all I was worth. I have the integrity to know that I can always change my own decision to leave the ANC.
M&G: You are known for some controversial comments you made, aimed specifically at the ANC. Was this just politicking on your part? Do you think you’ll be able to regain your credibility within the ANC?
AM: The ANC is a credible party itself and if there was a bad feeling about me coming back to it, the leadership would not have even given me space to set foot into headquarters. This is one distinct feature about the ANC … it’s about growth, looking forward and embracing one another.
M&G: You had an exchange with Cope’s deputy general secretary Deidre Carter that angered many within the party, which you apologised for. Have you put the incident behind you?
AM: Actually I want to keep very little memories of Cope if I can, if I must keep any. That includes this incident too.
M&G: Do you have a relationship now with Carter?
AM: No, I don’t.
M&G: You have, on many occasions, made public comments that criticised Malema, calling him disrespectful and a leader without morals. How are you going to be able to work with him now?
AM: Julius is a member of the ANC and a seasoned politician, so he understands politics. I don’t want to preempt him as the president of the ANCYL as that would be wrong of me to do so.
M&G: Do you feel differently about him now that you have moved to the ANCYL?
AM: Julius remains president of the ANCYL so my rejoining the ANC is not about me feeling anything about anyone, but about participating in the ANC and helping strengthening the growth of the party.
M&G: You rejoined the ANC just a month before its youth league’s national congress. Are you planning to contest any of the league’s top positions or a post in the national executive committee?
AM: [Laughs] When a party goes to a congress, branch audits get done and in this case the youth league has done it. It wouldn’t be opened on the basis of my return. Anyway, I have no business with the congress.