By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has instructed its Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) secretary general, Bheki Mtolo to apologise for the remarks he made against the National Education,Health and Allied Workers Union.
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula and Mtolo met the leadership of Nehawu to discuss the lawsuit, brought after Mtolo accused its members of being responsible for service delivery failures.
Mtolo criticised Nehawu, attributing inefficiencies in public sector facilities—such as long queues at Home Affairs, inadequate service delivery at the Health Department, and substandard care at the Sassa — to negligence by Nehawu workers.
At a media briefing on Monday, Mbalula announced that Mtolo would issue an unconditional apology to Nehawu and formally retract his statements in writing.
He characterised Mtolo’s comments as “misplaced” and “excessive,” noting that the manner in which they were expressed exacerbated tensions.
Mbalula confirmed that, in light of this resolution, Nehawu would withdraw its legal action against the ANC and Mtolo.
He also indicated that a joint program involving the ANC, Nehawu, and Cosatu would be organised in KZN to engage directly with workers and address issues that have contributed to strained relations.
This initiative aims to foster better communication and collaboration among the involved parties and to clarify and resolve any misunderstandings that have arisen.
Turning to SACP Solly Mapaila’s labelling of the ANC as a “sellout” for working with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the government of national unity, Mbalula said this was “unhelpful” and that his criticisms should be raised within the appropriate structures.
While dissenting views were acceptable, “personal attacks and labelling” were not, Mbalula said, adding that Mapaila’s claim that President Cyril Ramaphosa led a neoliberal faction in the ANC was not correct.
He invited Mapaila to “debate” his suggestion within the alliance structures that the ANC had sold out.
“We are not at each other’s throats. Let us be cautious. Let us be respectful towards each other … Let us not talk out of turn,” he said.
Mbalula said a scheduled meeting of the alliance political committee would be held at which the partners would address a number of issues and that the secretariat would identify the issues for discussion within weeks.
“We have long agreed to call an alliance political committee meeting. The secretariat will meet and shape the agenda. We are not meeting because the SACP secretary general has raised a view vehemently and consistently that the GNU is a sellout position,” he said.
“We will meet at the right time. There is no crisis.”
Mbalula said the ANC had decided to convene the GNU as a tactical intervention to safeguard political power after losing its outright majority in the national elections on 29 May and that it would not be “permanent.”