The current African National Congress leadership in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was no match for former president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said.
“We are fighting a Ferrari there with a Conquest, so we need to match that with a flying machine that moves faster in seconds to surpass what is happening there,” he said.
While he refused to confirm if there was a planned disbandment of the provincial executive committees (PECs) of KZN and Gauteng, Mbalula was adamant that tough decisions needed to be taken in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
In KZN, Siboniso Duma is the chairperson and Bheki Mtolo is the secretary.
This is after both provinces suffered heavy blows in the May 29 national and provincial elections.
The ANC in KZN got 17% while the one in Gauteng received 45% electoral support. Nationally, the ANC lost elections and their support dropped to 40%.
This led to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) held a meeting with the leadership of KwaZulu-Natal in Boksburg, amid increasing calls for the dissolution of the provincial structure.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday, Mbalula placed a gag order on the KZN and Gauteng leadership from speaking to the media about the matter, saying he was the only one allowed to.
“We speak on behalf of the ANC, mandated positions… anyone who speaks after me should wear a Mzeke Mzeke or if ever they come to the fore, they would have crossed the line of discipline," he said.
“We will take them to the cleaners in terms of the disciplinary structures of the ANC. Nobody has a mandate to speak either than me on the matter."
He explained that both provinces are not stable in terms of proper leadership hence the results but they will come up with a plan to reclaim KZN.
“Those who thought they got the ANC to be weaker, they are not. We will rebuild it and we will come. We are not going to surrender the ANC to anyone,” he said.
However, responding to Mtolo’s remarks Mbalula said “His words mean nothing.”
Over the weekend, Mtolo said President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mbalula should be held responsible for failing to win the elections.
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