Mbalula: Don't reduce 2nd transition to songs
2012-09-26 22:29
Johannesburg - The ANC's second transition cannot be reduced to freedom songs, national executive committee member Fikile Mbalula said on Wednesday.
"If you start singing you'll never understand the debate," he told students at Wits university in Johannesburg.
"A transition is not an event, it's a process and a journey."
He was referring to songs in support of African National Congress leaders.
Members of the party supporting President Jacob Zuma would show two fingers indicating a second term, while others would show the soccer sign for a change over.
These songs and signs were killing the debate, said Mbalula.
Mbalula was speaking at the ANC Youth League's 68th anniversary lecture. He said the voice of reason was being suppressed by who could sing the loudest.
"The politics of today is reduced to the politics of freedom songs. That is why we don't know what our future is," said Mbalula.
He told the ANCYL not to allow the organisation to be suppressed.
"Think comrades... then you will find allies [in the ANC].
Mbalula said the ANCYL must not be "cry babies".
The ANCYL must not apologise for calling for the nationalisation of mines and economic freedom.
"No one else has made this call," he said.
"Elect people [at Mangaung] and give them a programme of action."
Take the second transition to the next level, said Mbalula.
The ANCYL is calling for Mbalula to be elected the ruling party's secretary-general at the elective conference in December.
Nominations for leaders will open next month.
- SAPA
