Two centres of power continues to plunge the ANC from one crisis to another, said Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi on Saturday.
“We supported the decision of the African National Congress national executive committee to recall President Thabo Mbeki, not only in response to the [Pietermaritzburg High Court] judgement, but mainly because politically his continued leadership of the country no longer made political sense,” said Vavi addressing a provincial congresses of SADTU and NUMSA in Eastern Cape.
He said ANC members lost confidence in Mbeki as demonstrated in Polokwane [when he lost the party’s presidency to Jacob Zuma].
“President Mbeki disarmed us throughout the past nine months. He was belligerent throughout. He sought to compete for space with the ANC and the new leadership.”
Vavi said Mbeki did not extend a hand of friendship and lead a process for reconciliation and healing.
“To him Polokwane meant nothing. He pretended that it did not happen and continued with business as usual even though his state of the nation address promised business unusual.”
Vavi said Mbeki’s continued presence in government meant that the ANC would take a longer time to heal, close the chapter of divisions and unite the organisation behind the new leadership and programmes.
“The ANC in Polokwane correctly stated that the organisation is the strategic centre of power and not the government. Judge [Chris] Nicholson’s judgement represented a tipping point. “
Mbeki stepped down on Sunday after the ANC NEC resolved to recall him a week ago.
President Kgalema Motlanthe was sworn in as the country’s third president on Thursday.
Vavi welcomed Motlanthe and regretted that some of the former ministers chose loyalty to an individual over “our people”.
“We welcomed the appointment of the new-look cabinet and celebrated in particular the removal of the Ministers of Health and Justice from the posts. “
SAPA
