Carl Niehaus protests outside the meeting of the ANC's National Works Committee (NWC) at Nasrec on 4 December 2022 in Johannesburg. Photo: Gallo Images/Beeld/Deaan Vivier
Failure for new leadership to emerge from the current African National Congress (ANC) national elective conference will see the party die.
These are the views of expelled African National Congress (ANC) member Carl Niehaus.
The first day of the party’s five-day long national elective conference started with delays with crucial documents such as the organisational report, the adoption of credentials, as well as financial and integrity commission’s reports not making it to the day’s proceedings.
ALSO READ: ANC55: No credentials at ANC’s first day of conference
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Niehaus has for the longest time been vocal and critical of the sitting president Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership.
Niehaus, known to be a staunch supporter of former president Jacob Zuma and Ace Magashule, was expelled for bringing the ANC into disrepute.
ALSO READ: Ta-ta, Carl: ANC expels Niehaus for good
The Citizen’s Stephen Tau had a conversation with Niehaus about where he thinks the ANC went wrong and whether or not the liberation movement can still be saved.
Listen here:
In recent months, Niehaus also led a march to the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg calling for the removal of Ramaphosa.
He has also held similar protests at various ANC events including the ANC KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial elective conference as well as the Policy conference.
ALSO READ: Niehaus: Friday’s march to Luthuli House, the first of many against Ramaphosa
Speaking to The Citizen a day after his expulsion from the ANC, Niehaus said this weekend’s elective conference will be a do-or-die moment for the party.
“The ANC under the leadership of Ramaphosa has been captured by white monopoly capital (WMC) and you can see that land issue remains unresolved.
“The country is also currently going through the worst load shedding ever with no sign that the crisis will be resolved any time soon,” said Niehaus.
Asked who he thought should take over the leadership role of the ANC, Niehaus did not mince his words, saying Ramaphosa’s time is up and that Zweli Mkhize would be the right person to renew and take the ANC forward.
The Citizen Talk with Stephen Tau’s Podcast is available to listen to on www.citizen.co.za