ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe has been accused of inconsistency after rebuking leaders who publicly commented on the ANC Youth League’s disciplinary cases.
The ANC Youth League wrote to Mantashe to complain about his reprimand, the Star newspaper reported.
It charged in the letter that leaders — including Mantashe and President Jacob Zuma — had on various occasions spoken about issues relating to the disciplinary process and discipline in the ANC.
They had never been called to order by the leadership collective, the youth league said.
“We think it is inconsistent of the ANC leadership to apply some principles and values to certain leaders while failing to do so to other leaders,” the youth league reportedly wrote in the letter.
Steering clear of the process
On Tuesday, a day after a national executive committee (NEC) meeting, Mantashe said in a statement that it was “correct” for party leaders to “stay clear of the process” in the disciplinary case against embattled league president Julius Malema.
He said this might be interpreted as trying to influence the outcome of proceedings.
Mantashe told the Star the difference between ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa’s comments and those made by himself and other leaders had been “in general” and not focused on the ongoing disciplinary processes.
Phosa broke ranks on the league’s disciplinary issues while addressing a centenary rally in Sekhukhune at the weekend.
He said the ANC was “no dustbin for comrades”.
‘Undue pressure’
Phosa also questioned the cabinet’s decision to put five Limpopo provincial government departments under administration.
“We believe that he [Phosa] expressed a correct view in saying that the ANC does not throw its cadres in the dustbin of history … Phosa was in no way putting undue pressure on the ANC process,” the youth league wrote in the letter.
ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza confirmed on Thursday that a letter was received by Mantashe’s office from the ANC Youth League, reacting to an earlier NEC statement issued on Phosa’s conduct.
Khoza said he was not in a position to elaborate on the contents. — Sapa