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ANC owes it to Rita Ndzanga to successfully renew itself: Mbeki

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Former President Thabo Mbeki says the African National Congress (ANC) owes it to struggle stalwart Rita Ndzanga to successfully renew itself.

Mbeki was speaking at Ndzanga’s memorial service held at Dlamini, in Soweto, on Thursday.

She passed away last week at the age of 88.

Ndzanga, a veteran trade unionist and political activist, was imprisoned together with another late stalwart, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. She was the recipient of the National Order of Luthuli in 2004 and 2016.

Mbeki says the ANC needs to reproduce more people like Ndzanga and rid itself of the corrupt individuals who pursue their personal ambitions.

Mbeki insists that the process of rebuilding the governing party must be genuine.

He says, “We can’t cheat the masses of the people, we can’t. The masses of people know who is wrong, who is bad amongst us. I am sure you can go to all the townships here in Soweto and the people will say why is the ANC keeping so and so. So I am saying we are fortunate in that, therefore we have this examiner that is the people who will give us the marks to say we have passed so when we engage the process of renewal it has to be genuine.”

‘Worried’

Senior ANC leader Susan Shabangu says Ndzanga was worried about the direction the ANC is taking.

Shabangu says Ndzanga was particularly concerned about the high levels of violence against women and children.

She says, “For us, we want to say to Mam Rita that GBV is worse in South Africa today, GBV is even worse in the ANC and we are apologetic as women. So we want to say, Mam Rita please tell those who are in front of you, oMam Sisulu, oMam Greta Capayi, boMam Molefe, say to them we face a huge challenge in South Africa today. The issue of patriarchy is worse than it was yesterday.”

VIDEO: Interview with Rita Ndzanga in 2018:

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