By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The former African National Congress (ANC) President Thabo Mbeki has reiterated his concerns about the party’s leadership and governance but asserted his unwavering support.
Jabulani Mall was abuzz on Thursday afternoon as the ruling party ramped up their campaign trail with Mbeki and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi engaging South Africans ahead of the elections.
While speaking to the media, the former president said he was happy with the number of people who showed up for his walkabout, as he hadn’t been in Soweto in some time.
Just a few days after ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa was heard in a leaked recording insisting the party’s campaign wasn’t felt on the ground, Mbeki joined the party’s campaign trail.
Mbeki is among several ANC veterans who have vehemently criticised the party for failing to get its ducks in a row and allowing corrupt officials to tarnish the image of the former liberation party.
But he says his decision to campaign for the ANC doesn’t mean he is satisfied with the organisation’s efforts to renew itself.
“I think it is important that we indeed return the ANC to power. I know there are many problems in the country and within the ANC, and so as we say ‘vote for the ANC’, we are also making a commitment to the people that we will attend to the problems within the ANC to make sure that it is able to discharge its responsibilities to the population,” he said.
Mbeki said it is a challenge to address all the problems South Africa has experienced, including high unemployment, poverty, and crime.
“I think the ANC can do it, but it must be an ANC that is transformed,” the former president said.
Mbeki urged the people to vote for the ANC on May 29.
Statistics published by the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) show that the largest number of registered voters in Gauteng hail from the City of Johannesburg, which includes Soweto.
They make up 35.91% of registered voters in the province, which makes areas like Soweto, which has traditionally been a stronghold for the ANC, crucial in the election.
[WATCH] “Umbutho engiwaziyo munye kuphela!” – Cde President Cde Thabo Mbeki #VoteANC#VoteANC2024 #LetsDoMoreTogether pic.twitter.com/dnVyBgIxaK
— African National Congress (@MYANC) April 25, 2024
The former president also said the ANC is right to apply its constitution when deciding on the future of his successor
The ANC is yet to formally expel Jacob Zuma, although the party’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has said Zuma is no longer a member.
Zuma joined the newly former uMkhonto weSizwe Party in December and served as the face of the party’s election campaign, even though Zuma insists he remains a loyal member of the ANC.
According to the ANC constitution, any member who campaigns for another political party shall be automatically expelled.
“The position that has been taken by leadership and I think they are probably right about it, that there are certain set procedures in the constitution of the ANC as to how you expel a member. It is necessary for the ANC to respect that constitution, so that it does not behave in a lawless manner”.
The drift between Zuma and the ANC comes as millions of eligible South African voters will head to the polls next month to elect a new government.