African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa said the party regrets the resignation of Veterans League Deputy President, Mavuso Msimang.
The struggle stalwart resigned from the party on Wednesday after more than 60 years. In his resignation letter sent to ANC Secretary General, Mavuso cited several issues, that include corruption, lack of accountability and ethical leadership, among others.
Ramaphosa said Msimang’s resignation is regrettable.
“We do regret the decision that he has taken. I’m rather pleased that he says he would want to continue being involved in one shape or another in the matters that have to do with our country. With time maybe he would be able to participate with us again. We still hold him in high regard, I hold him in the highest regard, he’s one of our outstanding veterans,” said Ramaphosa who was speaking on the side-lines of the Presidential Imbizo in Welkom, Free State.
In his letter, Msimang said it was not an easy decision to resign from the party he has served in various positions for decades.
“It is with profound sadness that I inform you of my decision to terminate my membership of the ANC. I have served the organisation loyally and diligently for over six decades. For several years now, the ANC has been wracked by endemic corruption, with devastating consequences on the governance of the country and the lives of poor people, of whom there continue to be so many,” read a statement from Msimang.
He also lamented the high rate of corruption in the government, adding that although the ANC did not invent corruption and inherited a state that was morally bankrupt, they had 30 years to phase it out.
He said the ANC’s own track record of corruption is a cause of great shame and is now part of the movement’s DNA.
Msimang bemoaned the socio-economic inequality conditions of millions of people in the country, citing that four million people are still living in shacks, street beggars and unemployment.
“As ANC leaders publicly proclaim ownership of obscenely wealthy homesteads and other possessions and send their children to the best schools in the land, there are still many South Africans whose children continue to be exposed to the risk of dropping into pit latrines in poorly equipped public schools and dying horrendous and humiliating deaths. There are children in rural areas who miss classes when streams and rivers are in flood because there are no bridges,” said Msimang.
The letter also cited the mismanagement and failures of state-owned entities like Eskom and Transnet
Msimang said he is proud that he and many others have consistently raised these concerns to the ANC leadership, without any success.
He said after six decades as a member of the ANC, his time and energies would be better spent elsewhere.
“Even as I painfully sever ties with my once glorious organisation, I shall continue to keep a vigil over all matters pertaining to governance in the country. It is not easy to leave an organisation that continues to be home to some of the most dedicated individuals I have had the good fortune, honour and privilege to call comrades. But it is time to go,” ended the statement.
Meanwhile, analysts believe that Mbalula’s criticism about the veterans league during his media briefing on Wednesday, was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
“We call upon the veterans of the ANC to stop de-campaigning the ANC and work through the structures of the organisation. The leadership of the ANC from its President Cyril Ramaphosa and all of us have availed ourselves of counsel and direction by veterans and stalwarts,” said Mbalula.
