Johnathan Paoli
Struggle stalwart and former ANC Veterans’ League deputy president Dr Mavuso Msimang has resigned with immediate effect, after more than 60 years of service, citing the long-standing and endemic corruption that has plagued the party.
Msimang released a three-page resignation letter on Wednesday, in which he berated the effects of corruption within the party on the governance of the country and the continued challenges faced by a vast majority of the people who remained poor.
Msimang questioned incidents of children drowning in pit latrines, raw sewage flowing into rivers, over a hundred people dying in the Life Esidimeni tragedy, people perishing while waiting for ambulances and businesses failing while ANC leaders publicly proclaim ownership of obscenely wealthy homesteads and other possessions, and sending their children to the best schools.
He said the dramatic decline in the organisation’s popularity was attributable to widely held perceptions that its members and deployees were corrupt, that the ANC had a high tolerance threshold for venality, and the deployment of unsuitable people accounted for the government’s deplorable levels of service to the public.
“Consequently, I have come to the realisation that my time and energies would be better spent elsewhere. Even as I painfully sever ties with my once glorious organisation, I shall continue to keep a vigil over any and all matters pertaining to governance in the country,” Msimang said.
Earlier during a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon Mbalula said the veterans league was decampaigning the party instead of using its direct line to the party’s leadership to discuss their concerns.
“On a daily basis they have led a charge against the organisation. We as the leadership are available if they wish to make a call, we will avail ourselves. In a couple of days, it will be the first anniversary of this leadership. While there are a number of issues that have been raised, which have not been addressed, they are on the agenda,” Mbalula said.
During exile, Msimang served in the armed wing of the ANC’s Umkhonto weSizwe in the 1960s and was the then banned organisation’s Chief of Communications and worked for the United Nations and Care International, among other organisations.
He returned to the country with his family shortly before the 1994 elections and was later appointed to several positions including Head of SA Tourism, CEO of the State Information Technology Agency and the Director-General in the Department of Home Affairs.
He was voted in as the Veteran’s League deputy president earlier this year at the ANCVL Congress.
ANC Veterans’ League President Snuki Zikalala confirmed in the early hours of Thursday morning that Msimang had resigned.
Zikalala denied and condemned the recent remarks by Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula that the VL was undermining the current party leadership, and said that it remained the league’s duty to renew the party and restore the people’s confidence.
“As the ANCVL, we will remain committed to bringing back the integrity and dignity of the organisation, and win the coming elections with a resounding victory,” Zikalala said.
Msimang has however not been shy to voice his concerns over the party’s performance, and previously said, that despite being former president Nelson Mandela’s mentee and chosen successor, the struggle icon would not have been proud of the state of the country and what many have called President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership failures.
Msimang’s resignation is expected to be a blow to the ANC, which has been desperately struggling to hold on to any chance to retain power in next year’s national elections.
Despite Msimang’s resignation and Mbalula’s rebuke, the league has said that it would continue to raise issues of corruption internally.
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