Johannesburg – The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has called upon leaders to use the right channel to raise frustrations they have with the party instead of attacking it, the government and its leadership in public.
This came after former presidents Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe publicly criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mbeki said Ramaphosa was under pressure over the Phala Phala scandal, ahead of the 55th national conference scheduled to take place in December.
At a press briefing on Saturday, Zuma labelled Ramaphosa as corrupt and accused him of committing crimes amounting to treason.
Zuma was referring to the Phala Phala scandal, where millions in foreign currency were at his farm in Limpopo and stolen in a heist.
"No court of law has ever found president Jacob Zuma corrupt for his involvement in the arms deal. Equally, no court of law has found President Cyril Ramaphosa corrupt in Phala Phala," said ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo.
"Such matters are being processed by relevant authorities and therefore accusing them of being corrupt is contrary to the well-established and fundamental principle of our law of the presumption of innocence until found guilty by a court of law,“ Mtolo said:
Mtolo stated that they saluted ANC presidents Mbeki, Zuma and Motlanthe, and that each of them would leave their footprints and legacy with South Africans for many years to come.
"However, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has noted a strange occurrence where (these) leaders are attacking the sitting ANC president, Ramaphosa, and the ANC publicly. Clearly, such an exercise is eroding the standing of the organisation in society.
"Whilst we respect their rights, as enshrined in the Constitution, of the freedom of speech, we respectfully request our leaders to exercise restraint," Mtolo said.
He said they do acknowledge that the organisation is facing challenges, but unfortunately, the conduct of the three leaders, whom they respect and admire, forces them to choose between them and the ANC.
"Unfortunately, as elected leaders, we are duty bound to defend the ANC and its leadership," warned Mtolo.
He said on August 26 they issued a statement informing the ANC rank and file and the people of this country about their planned visit to KwaDakwadunuse to see Zuma and to drink from his deep well of wisdom.
Mtolo said the engagement with Zuma followed another empowering engagement with Mbeki.
"As the ANC in KZN, we committed ourselves to rebuilding this province and ensuring that all structures of the ANC are not left behind. In this regard, we reiterate our commitment to ensure an ongoing consultation with our leaders who contributed towards building this province and the country as a whole. "
"Since our election into office during the provincial conference, we have always pointed out in various platforms the importance of a well-established and fundamental principle of our law of the presumption of innocence until found guilty by a court of law," he said.
"We are nursing a hope that our leaders will take a leaf out of president Nelson Mandela’s legacy. After leaving office, he spent his time as an elder and doing what elders do instead of attacking a sitting president. He never publicly insulted or undermined leaders of the ANC irrespective of how he felt about their conduct. He used internal processes to guide where he felt guidance was urgently needed," Mtolo said.