ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule launched a veiled attack on Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula for sharply raising internal issues of the governing party in the public domain.
Magashule was addressing unemployed graduates and members of the Umkhonto we Sizwe in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
He said members of the ANC must always remain disciplined and respect the elected party leadership, notwithstanding their differences.
He said the party would deal with Mbalula’s offensive tweets behind closed doors.
“We will engage with Mbalula. He is a member of the national working committee. I can’t engage with him publicly,” said Magashule.
“All members of the ANC must raise matters internally. That’s how the ANC operates.”
Mbalula fired off a series of ballistic tweets on Monday where he attacked Magashule and Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) leaders, and supporters of the former President Jacob Zuma.
He said MKMVA president Kebby Maphatsoe was a ‘coward’ who ran away from ANC camps in exile.
He also referred to MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus as a well-known ‘thug’ who faked his own mother’s death for his personal benefit.
On Tuesday, Mbalula remained adamant and said that he’s being targeted for cleaning up corruption at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and cancelling irregular security contracts.
“They didn’t just start attacking me yesterday (Monday). They have repeated falsehoods that I am responsible for the collapse and vandalism of infrastructure at PRASA. They had security companies there. I did away with that. PRASA was about lining up their pockets. They are just fly-by-night leaders using MKMVA’s name in vain. Thabang Makwetla is responsible for military veterans. He can come anytime and we will engage,” said Mbalula.
Speaking in Durban on Tuesday, Maphatsoe said Mbalula stooped very low by resorting to empty insults.
“I didn’t expect him to insult us. We take offence, but we will engage with comrade Mbalula. We are not in competition with him. He destroyed our infrastructure at PRASA. We have a duty to protect it. We are the ears and eyes of government. He was negligent,” said Maphatsoe.
(COMPILED BY INSIDE POLITICS STAFF)
