Lesufi takes steps to ease tensions with ANC leader Mbalula

Panyaza Lesufi, the African National Congress (ANC) chairperson in Gauteng, has taken action to resolve tensions between himself and the party’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula.

Lesufi and Mbalula shared the stage on Monday, 14 October, as the party reflected on the first 100 days of the formation of the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU) outside its headquarters, Luthuli House, in Johannesburg. 

PANYAZA LESUFI AND FIKILE MBALULA MAKE PEACE? 

Lesufi kicked off his address by acknowledging the role that the party’s leadership had played in forming the GNU and drafting the statement of intent that guides it. 

Further, Lesufi seemed to agree with Mbalula that the party’s leadership must be respected for their decisions, especially those regarding the formation of the GNU. 

“It must not be in our name that we undermine the leadership of this movement. It must not be in our name that we want to define ourselves outside the leadership of the ANC. 

“We are under the leadership of the ANC, and our national office bearers provide that particular leadership, and we must respect that,” he said. 

Lesufi also said there was one ANC and one national leadership, and whatever victories or challenges they come across, they should be attributed to the party. 

There has been reports that the two aren’t seeing eye to eye as Mbalula summoned Lesufi to Luthuli House to explain himself for his anti-GNU remarks. 

According to reports, Deputy President Paul Mashatile saved Lesufi from Mbalula’s lashing. 

At the weekend, Mbalula seemingly sent a stern warning to Lesufi, saying he has warned him not to behave like SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila, who has slammed the former ruling party for partnering with the DA (Democratic Alliance) to form the GNU.

“If he thinks he will run a campaign against the secretary-general of the ANC, he must mind his steps because we will act! We will never tolerate rogueness in the organisation, that, we will never allow that [sic].

“If he has decided to run a campaign against me as the secretary-general of the ANC, defacing the secretary-general of the organisation and doing it perpetually despite the fact that we are engaging and we talked politically and settled matters, we will have to see how to get around that,” he said.

‘DON’T KILL CHRIS HANI AGAIN’ SILENT PROTEST

ANC members also protested silently, holding placards written: “Don’t kill Chris Hani again.” 

These are the exact words that were written on a T-shirt Lesufi wore when he and Mbalula revealed that negotiations with the DA were deadlocked and the Blue Party would not be part of the Gauteng executive. 

In a briefing last Tuesday, Mbalula said he didn’t take note of the message on Lesufi’s T-shirt at the time and was only alerted by someone later on. However, he emphasised that they spoke about it with Lesufi and there was nothing sinister about it. 

On Monday, Mbalula slammed those who were protesting, saying they wanted to ruin the occasion and would be disciplined for their actions.