Limpopo is not a base for the new tendency

A false impression has been created that the democratic forces and the populace of Limpopo Province are not in support of the national leadership of the ANC and the country under President Jacob Zuma. This follows a hype of reports by members of the Fourth Estate, the media, about the recent ANC Provincial General Council which was meant to nominate ANC NEC and the top six officials which took place last week on 28 November in Polokwane.

The Fourth Estate was wittingly or unwittingly misled by The New Tendency which is hell-bent on selling the ANC to the big capitalists and the imperialist forces. There are basic principles in determining whether there is or not support for national leadership within the tri-partite alliance especially our time-tested ally- the ANC as we have known it for 100 years.

That determination is not merely limited to a vote by a faction opposed to the candidacy of a particular leader. It is a matter that involves collective and democratic process. In this case a faction managed and run by Malema in the shadows and Mathale's henchmen decided to exclude over 280 delegates who were probably opposed to the ANC PEC factional slate for NEC leadership as announced earlier on in November this year.

At the time when delegates wanted to consolidate their branch mandates through exchange of views among themselves, the hostile PEC decided to lock these comrades outside with the hope that the remaining minority inside the meeting room can hastily pass a vote of support for their preferred candidate.

While there is a duty to defend the collective leadership of our ANC led alliance, it is also important that senior leadership of the movement must not harbour a secret wish that The New Tendency must prevail within Limpopo Province. This is so particularly when the names of senior leaders are used for disingenuous causes. In this respect, the ANC Deputy President's name has been gravely abused to support a wrong cause that seeks to destabilise the movement. It is not true that the democratic movement and the populace of Limpopo Province do not support the leadership of Comrade President Jacob Zuma in Government generally and the ANC in particular. Such gibberish is not supported by any shred of evidence.  

On the contrary, it is the Zuma administration that saved Limpopo when it was on the brink of collapse towards the end of 2011.Last week's report by the Lancet Health Journal on the increase of life expectancy from 54 years in 2009 to 60 years in 2012 shows Zuma administration's commitment in dealing with the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

At an organisational level, it was Zuma's leadership of the ANC that saw the restoration of the key values of the movement such as consultation before major policy positions are adopted, upholding discipline amongst ordinary members including leaders at higher levels of the organisation as well as building and strengthening the relationship within the alliance.

We also have observed a trend within the Fourth Estate to discredit the ANC President with the hope that they will influence the delegates to sway the voting patterns in Mangaung. There articles being contributed by a number of analysts such as Prince Mashele in Sowetan and Moeletsi Mbeki amongst others seek to cast the ANC president in a bad light. The noise about the fight against corruption and moral decay in society by religious leaders, Banking Council, BUSA amongst others reflects the post-Mangaung  fears of the elite(black and white) of a possible, radical and pro-working class second phase of our transition coming out of Mangaung!

End!!

Statement issued by Gilbert Kganyakgo, SACP Limpopo provincial secretary, December 12 2012

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