The African National Congress (ANC) has announced that it will take disciplinary action in response to the recent conduct and public statements made by Malusi Gigaba and Senzo Mchunu.
In a statement issued on Monday night, Mahlengi Bhengu, the National Spokesperson for the ANC, said: “These comrades acted outside of any sanctioned organisational mandate or collective structure making pronouncements in an amount to deliberate and disparage the ANC. There should be no doubt we reject the views of any intimate structure of the movement and must be seen as an opportunistic assault on the collective image, credibility, and cohesion of the African National Congress.”
According to the party, their actions constitute a violation of ANC internal communication protocols and undermine the fundamental discipline of the movement.
This comes after Gigaba said that the ANC “will be history” if they don’t win municipalities in the local government elections. He was speaking at the tombstone unveiling of late struggle stalwart Nokuhamba Nyawo in Machobeni in Ngwavuma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
“I think we are preoccupied with our little corners, our little groupings. There doesn’t seem to exist the possibility for us to get up briefly from these little groupings, so that we can now discuss what is … in the best interest of our country, of our movement, of our people, so that we achieve a postcolonial society. And until we are ready to do that, I think we are failing in our duty,” Gigaba reportedly said.
The party emphasised its identity as a “revolutionary movement” guided by democratic centralism principles and its own internal discipline structures.
“These comrades are casting aspersions on the character and unity of the ANC, portraying the organisation as undignified and not deserving the support of their members. Their statements sow discord and confusion and weaken the people’s confidence in their movement. No disciplined comrade would out of their own volition ,make statements that embolden forces that have long sought to reverse the gains of our revolution,” stated Bhengu.
The party also highlighted a breach of established communication protocols. It stressed that communications in the ANC are a constitutional mandate of the Secretary-General, with these powers entrusted to the National Spokesperson for operational purposes.
In response to this conduct, the ANC confirmed it will take the necessary steps to correct this behaviour, stressing that “no comrade will be exempt from the discipline of the organisation.”
IOL
