By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Newly elected ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says he intent on cracking the whip with regard to what he called ill-discipline from members of the ANC.
Mbalula, was briefing the media on Monday night on day four of the African National Congress’ (ANC) national elective conference.
“I am a commander in bringing discipline to the ANC. There will be no lawlessness in the ANC. Those who want to continue with those shenanigans must be ready for me,” Mbalula said.
The ANC’s secretary-general’s office has been vacant, and without a permanent official, since the suspension of Ace Magashule.
The office has been viewed as crippled and vulnerable.
Mbalula said he planned to end the era of ANC members disregarding the party and its rules, attacking the president in the media, and showing disregard for the party’s constitution.
He said that it was not that NEC members mustn’t have opinions, but “you can’t have a national executive committee and have every NEC member speaking to the media about their views and about how they feel, that is not going to happen.”
“I promise you one thing: there will be no lawlessness in the ANC. Those who are continuing those shenanigans must be ready for me. It’s going to be me and them because this thing like K-Ci and Jojo, everybody speaking, has got an opinion, then that person must speak in the opposition.”
He is known for regularly referencing the American R&B duo.
Mbalula also weighed in on the recent vote in the National Assembly on whether to go ahead with impeachment proceedings against Cyril Ramaphosa.
“There is no self-respecting political party that will go to parliament and vote to impeach its own president,” he said. “That decision can only be taken by the African National Congress.”
He said if members want to vote against the ANC, they must start their own political party.