AXED KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu has questioned the morality of ANC leaders deployed in government, saying almost half of them have failed to execute their duties diligently.
Addressing a Nelson Mandela Memorial Lecture on Tuesday at the University of Zululand (Unizulu) Richards Bay campus, Mchunu said many ANC leaders have deviated from Nelson Mandela’s ideals and his teachings.
‘We don’t expect people to be angels, because even Madiba himself was not an angel, but at least he associated himself with the principles of morality, integrity and accountability.
‘When you look at what is happening in the country today, you feel ashamed, even when you listen to some leaders speak.
‘Whenever Madiba spoke, whether at a rally, one would stop and listen, and when you listened to his speech at the Rivonia trial, you felt his presence.
‘Today when you listen to leaders speak, you have to ask yourself whether that leader is telling the truth.’
Mchunu said it was Madiba who ensured that pensioners, regardless of race, receive their payments monthly by putting proper systems in place.
‘All that was needed from those responsible for the Department of Social Department was to ensure that people get paid on time. This is not a difficult job to do, but what we saw were court battles.
‘We have become a laughing stock in the eyes of the opposition and we are not making any mileage as a movement.’
Concept support
Mchunu said he fully supported the concept of Radical Economic Transformation.
‘We embrace this concept, but you can’t indicate right and turn left. It must start with those in leadership positions.
In their execution of duties they must be radical,’ he said.
He described Madiba as a leader of a special kind, who was down to earth and at ease with people.
‘In this region Madiba contributed immensely as a leader of the ANC after the 1991 conference. He spent three days here working with us as the leadership of the region. When he came on that day, IFP members were waiting for him
with placards saying Asiwafuni amaXhosa (we don’t want Xhosas here), and when he saw this, he stopped and approached them. Finally those IFP members ended up putting their placards down and shook hands with him.
That’s how special Madiba was.’
On the SA Communist Party’s decision to contest future elections, Mchunu said there was a problem on the table.
‘We respect their decision, but since we have a long history with the SACP we will need to engage with them on this decision. It will be wrong to allow the alliance to die. It’s a fact that the alliance was forged in the trenches,’ he said.
Presidential race
Reacting to the ANC’s Presidential race, Mchunu said he would support anyone who displays excellent leadership qualities in line with principles of unity, non-sexism, non-racialism and democracy which were Madiba’s values.
‘I was phoned by a comrade who asked me if I support a woman as President. I said no, I also don’t necessarily believe in a male President. Let us go to the December conference and elect a President who has stood the test of time.’
Mchunu also rejected President Zuma’s proposal of having a losing presidential candidate becoming a deputy president of the party.
‘How can you have a leader you did not elect to become a deputy president of the party? It can’t be correct. But we will go to our branches and discuss this matter, because we have an interest. By the way, this was a mere proposal.
‘In the ANC it’s either you are elected unopposed or you contest and get a majority vote and there is no third method of electing a leader.’
On allegations of corruption, Mchunu said President Zuma has done well by committing himself to appoint a commission to probe allegations of state capture.
Mchunu downplayed suggestions of him siding with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign to become the next leader of the ANC.
He is touted as close confidante of Ramaphosa and in line to become Secretary-General of the ANC if the Ramaphosa camp emerges victoious.
In May this year he accompanied Ramaphosa to iNkosi uNyazi Lwezulu’s Nazareth Baptist Church at the Gibisila Temple, a move which angered the provincial leadership of the ANC led by Sihle Zikalala.
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