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A disenchanted group of Mpumalanga ANC members will now deliver their list of grievances to party secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, after the provincial leadership snubbed them.
The Save Mpumalanga ANC group arrived at the provincial headquarters this afternoon and left, but no one accepted their memorandum.
Provincial secretary Lucky Ndinisa did not show up but Ehlanzeni regional executive committee members taunted the marchers outside the January “Che” Masilela Building.
Earlier today, Ndinisa said that he had warned the marchers yesterday that they would be disciplined for protesting at the offices.
Save Mpumalanga ANC group leader, Sipho Monareng, read out the grievances to a crowd of about 2 000 members who were brandishing placards that read:
» “Who killed Jimmy Mohlala?”
Mohlala is former Mbombela council speaker who was assassinated in 2009 for exposing tender corruption in the construction of the R1.2 billion Mbombela stadium;
» “Expose Apartheid Spies.”
This is a reference to allegations that Mabuza was an apartheid spy. Former ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa submitted information “supporting” that claim to ANC deputy secretary general, Jessie Duarte, last year; and
» “Stop political killings now. Step down Mpumalanga Nkurunziza.”
This message likened Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza to Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza, whose campaign for a third term in office caused riots in the country.
Monareng said the provincial office ignored their complaints and disputes about violation of the party’s constitution in the branches.
“Members pay membership fees but there are thieves who expunge them from the members’ database. Last year there were regional conferences … more than 50 branches did reach a quorum yet their delegates were at a conference,” he said.
Monareng said Mabuza had “privatised” the ANC, adding that comrades who opposed Mabuza’s ambition to return as provincial chairperson for a third term were excluded from the branch general meetings that eventually took the resolution at a provincial general council early this year.
Another leader of the group, Senzeni Ngubeni, said the march was the group’s last resort to get the provincial leadership to listen.
“We will deliver the memorandum to [Mantashe].”
Ngubeni added that the group would still campaign for the ANC in preparation for the 2016 local government elections.
The ANC provincial executive committee suspended a member, Peter Nyoni, on Monday on allegations that he was organising the march.
