By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@SimphiweNkwali
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the internal battles and factionalism in the ruling ANC are a threat to the democratic state.
Ramaphosa was delivering the closing address at the party’s national executive council lekgotla on Sunday.
The ANC Lekgotla took place over the weekend and tackled several issues including organisational renewal, job creation and poverty.
Ramaphosa said Lekgotla was being held at a time when the country and movement face a number of challenges.
He said the threat to democratic gains was as a result of an era of loss of “moral and ethical principles” within the movement.
“We need to show determination in addressing the toxic legacy of state capture [that] resulted in security institutions being weakened, misdirected and hallowed out.
“Economic challenges of income and wealth inequality and the triple challenges threaten state security and these require urgent interventions from NEDLAC. Regression of ethical and moral leadership has resulted in an existential crisis.
The lekgotla also took time to discuss the issue of defending the gains of our democracy. It recognised our movement is going through a period of decay and degeneration, he said.
“Divisions and factions in the ANC are themselves a threat to our democracy. Regression of ethical and moral leadership has resulted in what I would call a crisis. Our credibility and legitimacy are being undermined by our inability to act.
“As the ANC we should analyse and assess threats caused by others and threats caused by our own acts of omission and commission,” he added.
The ANC had,however,gone through tough situations before and emerged unscathed, he said. But the “counter-revolution” going on at the moment was one of a special kind that needed ANC leaders and members not to lower their guard.
In a veiled swipe at tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Ramaphosa said the lekgotla reaffirmed its support for the Constitution and the judiciary.
Sisulu has come under fire for a published opinion piece in which she argued that the Constitution, in its current form, was not serving the interests of black people.
“The ANC and the Alliance reaffirm our support for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the judiciary, and distance ourselves from narratives that seek to negate its transformative intent and gains,” he charged.
The embattled ANC is marred by divisions and more recently, public spats between members of Cabinet.
Ramaphosa’s quest of renewing and rebuilding the party is failing to gain ground as factional battles rage on.
The ANC’s 55th national congress to elect new leaders will be held in December 2022.
Video Courtesy of My ANC.