MKMVA warns ANC heads will roll

Former freedom fighters in the province were reportedly given marching orders this weekend to take the ruling party in Limpopo head on when members of Umkhon­to we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) gathered for the provincial celebrations of the 55th anniversary of the structure in Mankweng. Dealing with possible demands for heads to roll stemming from looming tension in MKMVA ranks is most likely not anything the ANC bargained on having to address two and a half months prior to going to the polls in the local government elections.
The weekend programme counted among provincial anniversary celebrations countrywide before a national rally at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on 16 December this year. As part of the programme members already gathered in Mankweng late Friday afternoon for a walkabout to distribute pamphlets advertising the next day’s occasion as well as toiletries to members of the public in the centre of the then buzzing settlement.

Revisiting the message of MKMVA National Chairperson and Deputy Defence and Military Veterans Minister Kebby Maphatsoe at Mankweng Community Hall on Saturday, acting MKMVA Provincial Secretary Lulamile Jack predicted that the ruling party in Limpopo would not be happy with the anticipated drastic decisions to be taken during an upcoming MKMVA Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting scheduled for next week. If the ANC in Limpopo did not play along, MKMVA’s provincial leadership would engage President Jacob Zuma on longstanding issues raised with and thus far ignored by the party in the province, he warned.
Seemingly failure by the top leadership of the ANC in the province to show up at Saturday’s event was the final straw for the leadership of a provincial structure that reportedly remains adamant to continue campaigning in the name of the ruling party in the province, despite the ANC’s alleged failure to support programmes of MKMVA in Limpopo. According to Jack they have, as in the case of every past invite, given the ruling party notice of Saturday’s event long in advance.
The issue of unrest in Vuwani could not be used as an excuse to derail the revolution, Jack said in lashing out about the absence of the top five of the ANC in Limpopo during MKMVA’s provincial celebrations. Instead the ANC had deployed an additional PEC member to Saturday’s occasion, as was the case in the past when MKMVA in Limpopo had their last provincial elective conference more than a year ago, he pointed out. Jack labelled it disrespect on the part of the ANC.
He emphasised the fact that the relationship between the two structures should be one of comradeship. He alluded to the fact that the MKMVA in Limpopo was logistically frustrated and had to push on without resources, as the ANC was not on board as expected. He claimed that MKMVA’s campaigns were benefitting the ANC and they wouldn’t stop campaigning for the ruling party, but were constantly informed that there was no budget for MKMVA campaigns or towards transport and logistical arrangements. They were defenders of the revolution and had to get support from the ruling party but instead got empty promises, he declared in conclusion.
Asked for comment, ANC Provincial Spokesperson Aluwani Netsianda referred to MKMVA as an autonomous structure of the ANC, which from time to time received support from them as and when such requests were made. “We will, however, look at any concerns when they get raised through organisational channels.”

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com

Featured photo: Acting MKMVA Provincial Secretary Lulamile Jack addresses members of MKMVA in Limpopo before Friday afternoon’s walkabout in Mankweng.