Unity crucial for ANC – Zuma

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PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has once again preached the importance of unity within the ANC.

Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Memorial Lecture at the Civic Centre in Empangeni on Mandela Day (Tuesday), Zuma voiced his concerns about factions which he says are killing the organisation.

‘One thing Madiba believed in was unity in the ANC. When he was in prison in 1985, he sent out a message from prison reminding everyone that unity was the rock upon which the ANC was founded.

‘So if we believe in Madiba, we must work for unity of the movement.

‘We have gone through difficulties which started a number of years back in terms of internal tension. We have raised the issue of unity because we have developed a system of slates and factions which are killing the organisation,’ Zuma said.

‘We have raised the issue of looking at changing the manner in which we go into elections because when comrades contest, they fight as if there is no tomorrow.

‘The slate by its very nature causes disunity, because those who are defeated start working against the ones who have been elected.

‘So they will never be at peace, firstly undermining those in leadership and cause problems down the line.

‘Some comrades in a faction fight as if they are dealing with the enemy. We need to cure the movement ourselves because no one is going to help us,’ he said.

He further spoke out against leaders who criticise the party.

Zuma said he can’t wait for the day when he is no longer President.

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‘I will then be able to respond to people freely,’ he said.

ANC KZN Chairperson Sihle Zikalala also lashed out at party members who attack the organisation publicly.

‘Madiba respected the leadership of the ANC. He had many views which differed from that of the ANC, and even when he was no longer the President of the party, he would voice his views with the NEC of the ANC. He never went public.

‘He never disrespected the ANC, even when he didn’t agree with the leadership of the time,’ Zikalala said.

His comments follow the recent PowerFM interview with former President Thabo Mbeki, who opened up about the current state of the organisation and his removal as party President at the elective conference in Polokwane.

He also spoke out about the foreign tendencies which he said had crept into the ANC – ‘the use of lies to achieve particular objectives’.

Zikalala on Tuesday said: ‘Today those who have served as Secretary Generals of the ANC have the audacity to stand in public and attack the ANC. Those who were once Presidents of the ANC, today go to radio stations and press conferences and attack the ANC.’

He encouraged members to draw lessons from Madiba who ‘always subjected himself to the collective wisdom of the organisation’.