Lekota - what next?
2008-10-08 21:26
Johannesburg - ANC veteran Mosiuoa Lekota gave notice of his "divorce" from the party on Wednesday, but its leadership said the marriage could still be saved.
"It seems we are serving today divorce papers," Lekota told reporters in Johannesburg, implying that he may start a breakaway political party.
"This is probably the parting of the ways, it probably is... We hope that sense will still prevail in us. If not, there's no going back."
But African National Congress treasurer-general Mathews Phosa was quick to try and calm tempers.
"Comrade Lekota said he has issued summons on us and our response to that is that the marriage has not broken down," Phosa said.
"We all have to be cool and find each other to go ahead with the process of reconciliation."
Phosa said he would have a meeting on Thursday with Lekota, former defence minister and a loyalist of ousted former president Thabo Mbeki.
"We are in the middle of the process of consultation... because a process based on anger and emotions is not part of our agenda," Phosa said at another media briefing.
Warning from Zuma
But ANC president Jacob Zuma, sitting alongside Phosa, warned: "Members who have grievances should bear in mind that there is a limit to utilising the ANC and its structures to destabilise the party."
This is the latest in a series of reports of a split in the ruling party, sparked by the removal of Mbeki from office by the ANC's national executive committee.
Lekota said the ANC leaders elected at Polokwane in December, including Zuma, were leading the party "away from its principles".
"Our road is quite clear. We will not follow anybody who is not prepared to come back from this deviation that they have started," said Lekota.
He said an announcement would be made within the next few weeks on the formation of a new organisation that could contest elections next year.
Opposition welcomes move
Political parties showed mixed reactions to his statement.
It was dismissed by the Congress of SA Trade Unions as a publicity stunt aimed at drumming up support for a new party.
Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille welcomed "Lekota's sharp criticism of Jacob Zuma's ANC and his call for a national debate to discuss the future of our constitutional democracy.
"The disintegration of the ANC has begun, heralding an exciting new era in South Africa. We have long championed the realignment of politics which is now clearly underway," added Zille.
The SA Communist Party said a new movement by Lekota would fail.
"This is nothing but a coalition of the ill-disciplined who cannot accept democratic processes inside the country... the party is not going to last," said secretary general Blade Nzimande.
"They are continuing what they failed to do inside the ANC."
'Notice to leave the ANC'
The Inkatha Freedom Party said the latest development showed a lack of good leadership within the ANC while the Independent Democrats said it was not surprised at Lekota's statements.
The Freedom Front Plus said a new party would be "good for democracy".
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, a former ANC member, agreed.
"Hopefully Terror (Lekota) will succeed in whatever he is trying to do. If he were to target at least 30% or 25% of voters, that would be good," said Holomisa.
Lekota last week sharply criticised the new ANC leadership in an open letter to secretary-general Gwede Mantashe but said he was yet to get a response from Mantashe.
In his letter, he accused the new ANC leaders of steering the organisation "away from the established policy priorities and customary democratic norms of the ANC."
But Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, an ANC NEC member, responded: "Put bluntly, you and those who share your views are giving notice to leave the ANC".
- SAPA