Mabuza defends president, slates critics
The ANC welcomed about 2 500 former members back into its fold at Acornhoek FET College.
ACORNHOEK – ANC chairman, Mr David Mabuza, bashed outspoken ANC members who criticised the president, Mr Jacob Zuma’s decision to reshuffle the cabinet, during a welcome-back ceremony for returning Bushbuckridge Residents Association (BRA) members to the ruling party on Sunday.
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The deputy president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, secretary-general, Mr Gwede Mantashe, and treasurer-general, Mr Zweli Mkhize, were among those who opposed Zuma.
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“I do not know whether they wanted to exercise the same powers that the president has. It is quite ill-disciplined that members will go out and talk, ‘I differ with the president’. This is ill-discipline,” Mabuza said.
The ANC welcomed about 2 500 former members back into its fold at Acornhoek FET College.
BRA said it was not worried about the mass departure. One of the prominent figures who returned to the ANC was former BRA secretary and representative in the provincial government, Mr Cleopas Maunye.
He was recalled as an MPL by BRA leaders after a special conference on February 22. He was accused of selling out to the ANC.
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Mabuza said he is at peace now that his party has won back some of its lost members.
“The organisation was my biggest threat. This was one thorn which was in my flesh and I was trying to take it out and today I feel better,” he said.
ANC provincial secretary, Mr Mandla Ndlovu, said the party was excited about the walkover.
“You can’t run away from your home. When there are issues you need to stay and solve them. We are glad that the lost sheep are back to where they belong and are ready to serve their branches,” he said.
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According to BRA secretary, Mr Johannes Ndlovu, the organisation was not bothered that Maunye rejoined the ANC as he was one of the stumbling blocks to the organisation’s growth.
“He is an opportunist, that’s why he went back to the ANC. Cleopas was greedy and not transparent when it came to organisational processes,” he said.
Ndlovu said the party did not expect a drop in membership and support because the people who left the party were Maunye’s close allies and family.
Maunye said he rejoined the ANC because of its promise to rebuild and streamline development in Bushbuckridge and the province.
“I am for development. I was expelled from the ANC before because of raising development issues. BRA did the same. History will judge me but I am leaving with a clear conscience,” he said.
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“We did not go back to the party because we did not have a political home. The decision was taken after a lot of engagements about their plans to listen to people’s needs,” said Maunye.
