Hundreds of South African Communist Party (SACP) members and supporters painted the city streets red yesterday as they marched to City Hall.
The action was in support of a call on its alliance partner, the ANC, to act against its corrupt leaders.
Addressing the crowd, SACP provincial secretary Xolile Nqatha said there was a tendency within the ANC to protect relatives and friends when implicated in corruption.
“Increasingly, when leaders are accused of corruption, when their relatives are accused of corruption, run and protect their families.
“They run and protect their friends and leave the ANC naked. We are saying it’s high time leaders stand on the side of the ANC and protect the ANC.
“They must not behave selfishly in order to protect their relatives,” said Nqatha to loud applause.
The march had been organised two weeks before senior Buffalo City ANC councillors including the mayor, Zukiswa Ncitha, and her deputy, Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, as well ANC BCM regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo sit for trial for their alleged involvement in misusing R5.9-million from BCM coffers.
The trial is set for April 7.
The march, which started at North End stadium, was also supported by church leaders, South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) among others.
Only a few individuals were wearing ANC T-shirts among supporters, but Nqatha said this did not indicate the ruling party boycotted the march. People are saying there is no ANC here (in the march), but we are the ANC. When the SACP marches against corruption, it is not a struggle against the ANC.
“How can we fight against ourselves. We are fighting against the thieves who are hiding behind the ANC,” said Nqatha.
When the Daily Dispatch first reported on the Mandela Memorial scandal last February, ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said although the ANC abided by the principle of innocent until proven otherwise, in such case it would be honourable for implicated leaders to resign to avoid tarnishing the name of Mandela.
But none of those implicated have resigned. Instead, the ANC promoted councillor Sindiswa Gomba earlier this year and she is now on the mayoral committee, although she faces the same charges.
This happens while the BCM ANC region is busy preparing for its elective conference.
The Dispatch reported two weeks ago that Mkolo was likely to contest to retain his regional secretary position. In Mkolo’s lineup, Simon-Ndzele is likely to contest as deputy regional chairwoman.
“Those who are corrupt. Those who are using the organisation to amass wealth, we will expose them and defeat them.
“These organisations are the instrument of the people to better their living conditions, not to enrich individuals.
“Today is the beginning of a long fight to end corruption,” said Nqatha.
Delivering a message of support, MKMVA BCM deputy secretary Malusi Mngqusho said they were fully behind any alliance partner or civic movement fighting corruption. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
March lashes out at ANC graft
The action was in support of a call on its alliance partner, the ANC, to act against its corrupt leaders.
Addressing the crowd, SACP provincial secretary Xolile Nqatha said there was a tendency within the ANC to protect relatives and friends when implicated in corruption.
“Increasingly, when leaders are accused of corruption, when their relatives are accused of corruption, run and protect their families.
“They run and protect their friends and leave the ANC naked. We are saying it’s high time leaders stand on the side of the ANC and protect the ANC.
“They must not behave selfishly in order to protect their relatives,” said Nqatha to loud applause.
The march had been organised two weeks before senior Buffalo City ANC councillors including the mayor, Zukiswa Ncitha, and her deputy, Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, as well ANC BCM regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo sit for trial for their alleged involvement in misusing R5.9-million from BCM coffers.
The trial is set for April 7.
The march, which started at North End stadium, was also supported by church leaders, South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) among others.
Only a few individuals were wearing ANC T-shirts among supporters, but Nqatha said this did not indicate the ruling party boycotted the march. People are saying there is no ANC here (in the march), but we are the ANC. When the SACP marches against corruption, it is not a struggle against the ANC.
“How can we fight against ourselves. We are fighting against the thieves who are hiding behind the ANC,” said Nqatha.
When the Daily Dispatch first reported on the Mandela Memorial scandal last February, ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said although the ANC abided by the principle of innocent until proven otherwise, in such case it would be honourable for implicated leaders to resign to avoid tarnishing the name of Mandela.
But none of those implicated have resigned. Instead, the ANC promoted councillor Sindiswa Gomba earlier this year and she is now on the mayoral committee, although she faces the same charges.
This happens while the BCM ANC region is busy preparing for its elective conference.
The Dispatch reported two weeks ago that Mkolo was likely to contest to retain his regional secretary position. In Mkolo’s lineup, Simon-Ndzele is likely to contest as deputy regional chairwoman.
“Those who are corrupt. Those who are using the organisation to amass wealth, we will expose them and defeat them.
“These organisations are the instrument of the people to better their living conditions, not to enrich individuals.
“Today is the beginning of a long fight to end corruption,” said Nqatha.
Delivering a message of support, MKMVA BCM deputy secretary Malusi Mngqusho said they were fully behind any alliance partner or civic movement fighting corruption. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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