CAPE TOWN - The election of murder accused Mandla Msibi as ANC Mpumalanga treasurer is the clearest indication yet that the party’s much-hyped renewal is nothing but wishful thinking.
It demonstrates that ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa’s message of renewal has not been fully embraced by the branches and provinces, and is only repeated by those close to him.
If anything, Msibi’s election says the opposite of what the Ramaphosa camp has been preaching. The party may have subsequently asked him to step aside as he has been charged, but it was the branches in Mpumalanga that showed their confidence in him.
Of course, this is not to say that Msibi is guilty of the crime, far from it. He still enjoys his constitutional rights of being presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Msibi was sacked from Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane’s Cabinet as the MEC of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs after having been charged with murder and attempted murder.
Before being released on bail, he told the court that he had not seen who was shooting and only heard the gunshots.
He now finds himself as the man responsible for the party’s finances in Mpumalanga, something that clearly did not sit well with Ramaphosa.
In addressing the delegates during the provincial elective congress on Sunday, he asked them to reflect on the decision.
“This matter does need your reflection as a disciplined membership of this organisation. Your reflection must be based on the decisions taken by our national conference. As I said, comrades, the issue of renewal is a process.
And as we go through this process we learn from some of the things that we continue to do.”
Ramaphosa’s message of renewal remains hollow so long as the branches and other party structures are not singing from the same hymn sheet.
Perhaps before asking the delegates to reflect on electing someone they clearly believe in, Ramaphosa and the ANC leadership need to ask themselves if they have done enough to convince their structures of this renewal process.
It appears some of these structures are pulling in opposite directions. It further begs the question: Does the centre still hold?
The answer will be known in less than eight months when Ramaphosa will seek his second term.
He could find himself being elected alongside a criminally charged person.
Cape Times