ANC deputy president David Mabuza said on Wednesday that the South African government will never abandon traditional leaders, adding that the governing party was in the process of renewing itself to ensure service delivery at all levels.
This comes after Mabuza’s meeting with traditional leaders in Limpopo Province, who lambasted the ANC-led government of abandoning them.
The traditional leaders also complained about the failure to increase their salaries.
They threatened to boycott the ANC in the upcoming general elections if their grievances were not resolved.
“We heard our people concerns about the levels of corruption, mismanagement of state resources. We are going to strengthen our hand,” Mabuza told traditional leaders.
“We will never turn our backs against you. In times of difficulties and happiness, we will hold hands together with you.”
Mabuza added that he hoped the ANC’s January 8 celebrations would help the leadership reconcile with its constituency as it had been evident that they had broken away.
“Our people are complaining about the social distance that we have created between us and them, and I can sense the very same sound from this meeting that you are very far from us. Even if we want to talk to you, you won’t talk to us.”
Mabuza was engaging with traditional leaders at the Polokwane Council Chambers in Polokwane, Limpopo.
He is currently in the province ahead of the ANC January 8 Statement address on Saturday by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“You don’t leave home when there are problems, you stay and become part of resolving the problems. Don’t leave the ANC,” said Mabuza.
“People on the ground say we have created a social distance between them and us, we are prepared to revive this mass pillar, the movement is the movement of the people, the soul of the ANC resides within the masses. Because it is our source of strength, and it is our identity.”
Mabuza also said that he will address challenges faced by traditional leaders from February.
“We will talk about our problems. KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Mpumalanga are doing something else, the treatment is not the same. We have come to a point where we should normalise the services we offer to our traditional leaders.” said Mabuza.
Mabuza later addressed a crowd of supporters in Seshego where he urged them to come to the January 8 statement meeting.
“I want to appeal to you to calm down. You have given me, here in this meeting, an ultimatum of six months. We will never separate with the traditional leaders. I can hear today the threats that you are putting across to say, we are going to leave you, but from the side of the ANC, we will never because you are a part of our existence,” said Mabuza.
“We will never turn our backs against you. In times of difficulties and happiness, we will hold hands together with you.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Ramaphosa also visited a number of royal houses in the Sekhukhune district.
