“Stop showing off”, says ANC chairman at birthday rally
ANC provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala poke candidly about what he called "arrogance" and "insensitive displays of material opulence" which he said had crept into the governing party.
ANC provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala told members and party supporters last Sunday that the organisation was nothing without the people of this country.
Mr Zikalala was speaking at the party’s 108th birthday celebrations which took place at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre.
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He told the gathering of thousands that the party had no room for “spectacular opulence and people who flash their material gains”.
He spoke candidly about what he called “arrogance” and “insensitive displays of material opulence” which he said had crept into the governing party.
“The ANC is for ordinary people. We need to do away with this trend of going to ANC gatherings to compete over who has the most wealth and looking down on the poor. Instead, we need to show people that we are a caring and listening organisation.”
He pointed out that as the country faced high unemployment rates, so did party supporters.
“Enough is enough”, he stressed, adding that the trend of displaying wealth undermined the party’s true revolutionary character.
According to Mr Zikalala, climate change and the shortage of water were a major challenge facing most municipalities, including Ugu which, he said, had been hard-hit by drought.
“About 17 000 cows in the province have died due to a lack of water, but rest assured that we have a master plan to ensure that we deliver water to all citizens in the province.”
He also urged the gathering to take a tough stance against crime.
“We must fight crime, instability and lawlessness. Our sisters were being raped and families are being attacked in their own homes by criminals who roam our streets.”
Mr Zikalala also took the opportunity to pay tribute to fallen local struggle heroes such as Reverend Elliot Mgojo, Tolomane Mnyayiza, and Ray Nkonyeni.
Celebrations followed, with Duduzane Zuma taking centre stage and stealing the show.
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