Ex-Deputy President Motlanthe Hits Out at ANC in Interview

JOHANNESBURG – Former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe was highly critical of the African National Congress and many of its leaders in an interview published on Monday in the Business Day, and said the party was impaired. The ANC responded that it respected Motlanthe’s “forthrightness”.

Motlanthe lashed out at the ANC, saying it was made up mostly of members and leaders devoid of the kind of political ability and consciousness required to maintain a united and nonracial society — a key ideal articulated during the liberation struggle.

He told the newspaper that internal democracy in the ANC was impaired.

“The point I am making is that the policies are in place, the constitution is in place, but if those in power can pick and choose when to adhere, when not to adhere, then we have a very difficult situation.”

Motlanthe, who served as president for a short while after Thabo Mbeki was removed from the post, said in the interview that the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party, formerly independent ideological partners of the ANC, had lost their way and the alliance only existed in name.

In a statement following the interview, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said: “The ANC embraces his forthrightness and willingness to provide leadership beyond formal structures of the organisation.”