Karima Brown
8 October 2008
Johannesburg — IN A bid to avert a damaging split, the African National Congress (ANC) top brass plans to extend an olive branch to disgruntled members.
It is understood that an extended meeting of the national working committee (NWC) on Monday, attended by provincial leaders, resolved to meet members from branch level upwards to "engage" with them on the recall from office of former president Thabo Mbeki.
There is, however, concern that the overture may have been left too late, and that disputes in the party will result in a permanent schism.
The NWC intervention arises from a bitter public row among senior ANC leaders and former cabinet ministers who quit the cabinet in solidarity with Mbeki.
The resignations fuelled speculation that Mbeki loyalists were keen to start a new party to take on the ANC at the polls.
NWC sources told Business Day that "an olive branch" had been extended, and the leadership would meet disgruntled members in an effort to stop them quitting the party.
Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota wrote two open letters to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe criticising Mbeki's ousting. Lekota said the party under Jacob Zuma's leadership had departed from policies and customs enshrined in the Freedom Charter, and expressed concern about "high levels of intolerance".
National executive committee (NEC) member and Transport Minister Jeff Radebe replied in a scathing open letter, saying Lekota's letter was tantamount to a declaration that Lekota and others intended to quit the ANC and form an alternative party.
Lekota said yesterday he had met President Kgalema Motlanthe and NEC member Max Sisulu.
But Lekota said "no substantial" discussions were held on Monday, and Motlanthe told him that Mantashe was going to meet him about the matter.
Asked if he was scheduled to meet Lekota any time soon, Mantashe said: "I know nothing about any such meeting."
It is understood that Mbeki loyalists are divided on how to proceed following the ANC's decision to axe him. Some who hold senior leadership posts in ANC provincial structures told Business Day they "could not ever leave the movement", but acknowledged that majority sentiment in the Mbeki camp favoured the formation of another party.
A senior ANC provincial leader said: "We are going to push for an indaba of sorts to provide space for interaction on this matter.
"I cannot see myself campaigning for any other party except the ANC. Nor can I foresee a situation where we go into an arrangement with the likes of the Democratic Alliance against the ANC.
"They are diametrically opposed to the ANC."
But it is believed this view is not shared by all who are loyal to Mbeki. "I hope we can sort this matter out," one Mbeki loyalist said. "Comrade Thabo Mbeki is not at all keen on an alternative in the ANC. The ANC is all he knows."
A proposal being considered is mediation between the feuding ANC camps facilitated by members of the clergy to "heal" the rifts.
However, these efforts could be hobbled as attitudes harden.
The Young Communist League yesterday denounced Lekota's letter to Mantashe, in which he criticised Mantashe for holding the post of secretary-general of the ANC while chairing the South African Communist Party.
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