The African National Congress has a responsibility to embrace former members who want to rejoin the organisation, the party's Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said today.
Addressing about 5000 ruling party supporters at a rally in Thembalethu Stadium in George (Western Cape), Mantashe said reconciliation and unity had always been at the centre of the ANC's principles and values.
"Since 1912, the ANC's objective has always been to unite the people of South Africa - we have a responsibility to unite our people. When those who left come back, we will accept them," he said.
Mantashe also used the event to officially welcome seven new members, including Velile Waxa, Makrostile Doyile, Aubrey Tshengwa and Mbali Sakhele, all of whom had resigned from the ANC to contest as independent candidates in the previous by-elections.
He said the fact that most of the defectors where now rejoining the organisation was proof there were no divisions within the ruling party. "What happened within the ANC was that there were differences among members - not divisions," he said.
Accompanied by ANC National Executive Member Nomvula Mokonyane and Provincial Elections Task Team coordinator, Chris Nissen, Mantashe also dismissed speculations that opposition parties could govern at least four provinces through coalitions after the April 22 elections.