The African National Congress (ANC) National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe has lashed out at internal party weakness, including the Youth League which he says is entangled in factional politics.
Speaking during the wreath-laying ceremony of late party leader Oliver Tambo, Mantashe says the ANC that appears to be synonymous with corruption.
He called on leaders to emulate Oliver Tambo by remaining selfless servants of the people.
This was Mantashe’s first public appearance since taking over as the party’s national chairperson after serving two terms as its secretary general.
The chairperson acknowledges that the party was fractured by bitter leadership struggles in the build to its 54th national congress last month.
Mantashe says, “We are there in the top six, all of us must disabuse ourselves from all of that. We are a team of six elected by delegates of the ANC to its national conference. Delegates practically said to all of us, we hate slate politics, we want the leadership that will unify the ANC and we must actually rise to the occasion.”
Meanwhile, the Tambo family has lauded the party for celebrating his contribution to the liberation struggle in various ways. Tambo’s grandchild O R junior conveyed the family’s appreciation.
He says, “From the Tambo family we believe it was the utmost honour to witness 2017, from how various people decided to honour Oliver Tambo. From my perspective, I have seen museums opened, paintings displayed, rallies, marches, parades, everything of the sort dedicated to my grandfather.”
The party’s officials will in the coming days visit graves of former party presidents as part of the celebrating the ANC’s formation 106 years ago.
