MBOMBELA – The ANC’s attack on him has turned into a fishing expedition, says Mr Mathews Phosa. “I have no intention to feed this orgy of a fishing expedition. This matter is in the hands of the ANC officials. No number of press conferences or press releases will change anything.”
His statement came after the party’s branches denounced him for his part in bringing to light the spy allegations against Mr David Mabuza (provincial chairman and premier) during an urgent press conference on Tuesday. “As the ANC we had great respect for this comrade but with this development we are taking a dim view at even calling him a comrade,” said Bohlabela chairman Mr Gillion Mashego in a statement.
Along with the provincial women’s league and youth league the four branches in the province are accusing the former provincial chairman and national executive member of manufacturing the allegations that Mabuza was an apartheid spy and of spreading it to the media, something he has denied.
The branches also took the opportunity to express their support for Mabuza to stand for a third term as provincial chairman of the ANC. Following a statement made by tripartite alliance partner the communist party last week, the ANC branches said they hoped the South African Community Party and Phosa would be crushed.
“As structures of the ANC we feel Phosa and his cohorts have reached a cul-de-sac and it’s time the might of our movement crashes them (sic),” Mashego said.
His colleague and Gert Sibande chairman Mr Vusi Shongwe said in response to a question that nobody in the organisation was ever a spy.
Mabuza is suing Phosa who has admitted to informing the party leadership of a report “proving” Mabuza was a spy in order for it to investigate the matter. Mabuza has in turn requested president Mr Jacob Zuma to investigate the issue.
