EASTERN Cape traditional leaders this week publicly pronounced that they will throw their support behind the ANC in the general elections to ensure the organisation remains in government.
However, they sent a stern warning to the party and President Jacob Zuma that the continuous infighting and factions in the organisation were not only costing the ANC dearly, but were destroying democracy and hindering service delivery.
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL) and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) made the announcement much to the excitement of Zuma and provincial ANC leaders during a gala dinner at Dan’s Country Lodge outside Mthatha on Thursday evening.
The cherry on top for Zuma was Western Pondoland King Ndamase Ndamase also announcing his support for the ANC.
“ANC is in my family blood, my grandfathers have been working with the ANC and I continue with the family tradition of supporting the ANC. I have requested my people to vote ANC only,” said Ndamase.
Contralesa general-secretary Nkosi Xolile Ndevu and ECHTL chairman Nkosi Ngangomhlaba Matanzima also assured Zuma and the provincial ANC leadership that traditional leaders in the province would vote ANC. However, Ndevu and Nkosi Sibongile Dumalisile of the AmaXhosa urged the organisation to move with speed to ensure service delivery, especially in rural areas.
“Yes, we will ensure that ANC continues to lead, but its leaders must this term roll up their sleeves to ensure service delivery reaches many communities,” said Dumalisile. Matanzima said they would ensure that the ANC again led the South African government, and called for “high levels of discipline”.
“Factions and infighting in the ANC are costing it and this ill-discipline within the organisation is costing it dearly,” said Matanzima.
“In fact it is undermining our democracy and prevents service delivery as this spills over to government.”
Zuma, happy with the announcements, took the opportunity to take a swipe at Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader Julius Malema.
“Imagine if Julius Malema could be voted to power.
He will definitely pass laws to collapse traditional leadership in the country,” said Zuma. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Province’s traditional leaders throw weight behind ANC for elections
However, they sent a stern warning to the party and President Jacob Zuma that the continuous infighting and factions in the organisation were not only costing the ANC dearly, but were destroying democracy and hindering service delivery.
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL) and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) made the announcement much to the excitement of Zuma and provincial ANC leaders during a gala dinner at Dan’s Country Lodge outside Mthatha on Thursday evening.
The cherry on top for Zuma was Western Pondoland King Ndamase Ndamase also announcing his support for the ANC.
“ANC is in my family blood, my grandfathers have been working with the ANC and I continue with the family tradition of supporting the ANC. I have requested my people to vote ANC only,” said Ndamase.
Contralesa general-secretary Nkosi Xolile Ndevu and ECHTL chairman Nkosi Ngangomhlaba Matanzima also assured Zuma and the provincial ANC leadership that traditional leaders in the province would vote ANC. However, Ndevu and Nkosi Sibongile Dumalisile of the AmaXhosa urged the organisation to move with speed to ensure service delivery, especially in rural areas.
“Yes, we will ensure that ANC continues to lead, but its leaders must this term roll up their sleeves to ensure service delivery reaches many communities,” said Dumalisile. Matanzima said they would ensure that the ANC again led the South African government, and called for “high levels of discipline”.
“Factions and infighting in the ANC are costing it and this ill-discipline within the organisation is costing it dearly,” said Matanzima.
“In fact it is undermining our democracy and prevents service delivery as this spills over to government.”
Zuma, happy with the announcements, took the opportunity to take a swipe at Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader Julius Malema.
“Imagine if Julius Malema could be voted to power.
He will definitely pass laws to collapse traditional leadership in the country,” said Zuma. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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