ANC working on 'unwanted tendencies'
2012-03-01 21:06
Pretoria - The ANC's political school was the answer to "unwanted tendencies" within the ruling party, political subcommittee chairperson Tony Yengeni said on Thursday.
Speaking as the African National Congress's leadership attended a three-day political school in Centurion, Yengeni said the school would become a way of life for members.
"It will decrease unwanted tendencies [in how members work and live] and [ensure that] all members are guided by the principles, values and objectives of the ANC."
Yengeni said the political school would soon be a prerequisite for party members and leaders. Those who were "deployed" would be required to go through the programme to learn what the ANC stood for.
"It will ensure that individual members have their political consciousness increased, so that you know how to behave as a member, and as a leader and you know how to lead."
Asked how the political school could have helped expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, Yengeni - reportedly a Malema supporter - said he was not qualified to comment on disciplinary issues.
However, he said it would benefit members and arm them with skills to distinguish between right and wrong.
"It is extremely important, especially for members coming into the ranks, so there's no excuses given later that 'I didn't know'," he said.
"You should know the wrongs and rights. They are all spelt out in the constitutions and in various policy documents of the ANC."
Yengeni said individual members, including those from the ANCYL, would be obliged to attend the political school to learn about the party's history, policies and constitution. Those who stepped out of line would be given individual attention.
ANC leaders would be educated on the party's history and made to understand its relationship with the league.
During Malema's disciplinary hearing he and other league officials argued the league was autonomous, while ANC leaders emphasised it could not be separated from the ANC. P
resident Jacob Zuma said on February 23 that the league was not a "spare wheel", but an integral part of the ANC.
On Wednesday night, the ANC's national disciplinary committee announced Malema had been expelled from the ruling party.
His secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa and spokesperson Floyd Shivambu were suspended. They had two weeks to appeal the decision. In a brief statement on Wednesday, the ANC said it accepted and respected the decision to expel the firebrand youth leader.
Malema, who was recently referred to as the "chief commander of economic freedom", was found guilty of sowing division in the ANC and of bringing the organisation into disrepute.
- SAPA
