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‘Apologist to racism’: Mbalula says ANC will work with DA if party had no choice
'This is the DA, that's what they stand for,' ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday.
ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula briefs the media at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on 31 January 2023. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
The African National Congress (ANC) says it is open to forming a coalition with any party that shared the same interest in addressing “the legacy of apartheid” even though they had differences.
Coalitions have been a major talking point for a while considering the levels of instability in some of the country’s biggest metros and municipalities.
Some of the metros that have been affected by instability include the City of Tshwane, City of Ekurhuleni as well as the City of Johannesburg.
Political, ideological differences
Addressing the media on Tuesday, following the conclusion of the governing party’s national executive committee (NEC) four-day meeting, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party believes that any coalition partner must commit to a common goal that focused on delivering services to South Africans.
Mbalula said the ANC was of the view that the party that has received the largest votes should lead a coalition and blamed the instability in some municipalities across the country on the frequent changing of mayors.
“Executive positions should be allocated in proportion to the votes obtained by coalition partners. Coalition governments should reflect the will of the people, not just elite deal-making among parties,” he said.
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“Where no party has a clear majority, the collective executive system should be instituted so that parties are presented in proportion to their votes and that they take collective responsibility to ensure a stable and functional government.”
He also said the ANC was willing to work with any party in a coalition government who wanted to deal with the legacy of apartheid and colonialism as long as it was in the public interest, despite the “very serious political and ideological differences”.
“You will know that we have got a number of hang councils,” Mbalula said.
“At local level, you do have toxic political parties who changes their minds based on whatever overnight and go this way to work the DA [Democratic Alliance] or the ANC going forward. So, we are saying such political parties, we must not consider to work with.”
‘Coalitions are a disaster’
Mbalula further said the ANC had no problem with the EFF.
“We differ with them in relation to their style of doing things [such as] shutdowns, anarchy and so on,” he said, adding that the land redistribution was another issue the parties had different views on.
Regarding the DA, Mbalula pointed out that the ANC had an issue with the party’s stance on racial matters.
“The DA, in terms of its policies, is an apologist to racism. It says racism doesn’t exist and that racists, to a certain extent, we must put a blind eye on them. They say affirmative action [such as black economic empowerment] is a problem,” he said.
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“They are apologists in a sense that they say what has happened over 300 years in this country must be ignored in 30 years of freedom [and] everything else is levelled, we are all equal. This is the DA, that’s what they stand for… they practice what they say.”
Mbalula suggested that the ANC will work with the DA if the party had no choice, but to do so.
“[For example] where South Africa has voted 50-50 for us and them, which is not going to be possible. Coalitions are a disaster for a democracy.”
The ANC’s Veterans’ League also recently indicated that racism was the main issue hindering the governing party and the DA to form a grand coalition.
Earlier this month, DA leader John Steenhuisen vowed to prevent ANC and EFF “doomsday coalition” from taking power of the country with South Africa set to go to the polls next year.
State capture
Mbalula said the NEC also discussed matters regarding the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture’s final report.
He said the ANC has resolved that all current party members and former officials implicated in the state capture reports who failed to voluntarily present themselves to its integrity commission will be referred to the national disciplinary committee (NDC).
“The NEC noted the integrity commission report regarding its engagement with comrade Tina Joemat-Pettersson.
“It further noted comrade Joemat-Pettersson has been cleared by parliamentary processes and that neither the Zondo Commission, Public Protector, nor the high court have made adverse findings against her [so] the NEC has, therefore, resolved that comrade Tina is a member on good standing,” he said.
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The ANC’s integrity commission had previously dealt with 55 members who were found to have brought the organisation into “serious” disrepute and various sanctions were recommended.
At least 97 more party members were expected to appeared before the commission.
The governing party last year had also established a task team on state capture to deal with Zondo Commission’s recommendations.
The task team, which was recommended by the national working committee, is led by former energy minister Jeff Radebe alongside former ANC head of policy Joel Netshitenzhe, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and other senior members.
