President Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC’s new smart card system will help rid the party of the “corrupt” gatekeeping practice.

Through the new system, the ANC has established that 600,000 of its members are in good standing.

The party launched the system at the start of its scheduled national executive committee meeting at the Birchhwood Hotel in Boksburg in Ekurhuleni on Friday, with Ramaphosa the first to get his smart card.

He was followed by the party’s national officials and after the president addressed the meeting, some of the veterans were handed theirs too.

Ramaphosa hailed the new system as a milestone in the party’s renewal and rebuilding process.

“The new membership card will make the process of joining the ANC more seamless as the SG (secretary-general) was saying. It should reduce the practice of gatekeeping.

“Gatekeeping has been one of the ills and… one of the very corrupt ways that has been utilised to get members to be compromised in terms of being associated with the ANC.

“The new system will go a long way in attracting the most capable and committed competent members amongst in its ranks. The system formed part of the party’s broader renewal and rebuilding process that is going to focus on the ANC members,” he said.

The president said the system must be complimented by a recruitment campaign that should reach out to all South Africans, irrespective of their race, colour, creed and where they came from.

He said everyone who accepted the ANC principles, policies, programmes and constitution would be welcomed.

Further, Ramaphosa said, the recruitment campaign must be accompanied by intense political education, including the foundational course designed for the new members. The package also includes the party’s constitution, strategy and tactics as well as the Freedom Charter.

He said the party would soon roll out the new membership cards in what he described as a massive campaign that would generate a lot of enthusiasm amongst the members.

“Wherever one goes, whether its door to door or [a] rally, people always raise the issue of I have not received my membership card. I would like to have a membership card. So, this is going to be a prize possession for our members because it will be a badge not only of honour, but it will also a badge of association with the ANC,” he said.

Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the system would make it possible to detect when branch general meetings were being held and how some secretaries were denying some members access.

He said that with the new system, members would be able to call the national office and give the card number and receive prompt intervention.

Mbalula said the old system allowed corrupt practices of membership bulk buying and the flourishing of ghost branches.

“The development of the new membership platform is now complete, and data migration form the old system is also complete. Of the 1.3 million members, more than 600,000 of these are in good standing,” he said.

He added that members whose membership has expired had the opportunity to renew using the online membership portal.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post ANC renewal drive introduces smart cards for members appeared first on Inside Politic.

MK Party leader Jacob Zuma’s daughter and party member Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has only apologised to her father and party structures over her public spat with secretary-general Floyd Shivambu.

She has offered no apology to Shivambu.

Following the fight on social media on Monday night, Zuma instructed his daughter to publicly apologise to the secretary-general or face disciplinary action that could include termination of her membership.

Zuma-Sambudla obliged in a statement, saying as a committed and disciplined member of the MKP, she unconditionally publicly apologised to her father and party leadership for using profanities in her social media interactions.

She did not mention Shivambu personally, but did acknowledge that she should not have taken the matter into the public domain.

She added that even though she held strong views and serious concerns, internal party matters pertaining to Shivambu were supposed to have been addressed via internal channels.

“I acknowledge that expressing these grievances publicly was unfortunate and may have undermined the unity, discipline and respect that defines the MK Party.

“My profanity was not and should not be a reflection of the revolutionary discipline, respect and solidarity that our organisation, under the esteemed leadership of President Jacob Zuma, upholds.

“To president Jacob Zuma of the MK Party, the entire leadership, members, supporters of the MKP, and the people of South Africa, I wish to assure you that I never intended to harm the integrity of the party or the values it upholds,” she said in a statement.

She also apologised for any offence caused and offered formal apologies to all the structures she served in whose roles and responsibilities she said she carried with the utmost humility and commitment.

“I hope my apology is received in the spirit of accountability, revolutionary solidarity and a genuine commitment to upholding the values of the MK Party. I am fully prepared and committed to cooperate with any internal processes deemed necessary by the party, as part of my continued dedication to the ideals of discipline, respect, and unity,” she said.

Zuma reigned her in after she went on the attack following a post on X which lauded Shivambu as worthy leader, to which she responded by saying that he was the worst thing that has ever happened to MKP.

She further launched attacks on those who were calling her out and went as far as swearing at Shivambu in response to another post that pointed her out as the biggest problem in the party.

“Floyd I am Not Scared Of YOU!!! Tell Your Minions To FUCK OFF… Bloody Mafikizolos,” she barked to another response.

Tensions between the two have been simmering for some time. Zuma, who is seen to be very close to his daughter, has sided with Shivambu.

He said in a statement on Monday night that she must issue an unconditional public apology to Shivambu, himself, members and supporters of the party as well as the people of South Africa.

“Such actions are unacceptable, divisive, denigrating and offensive. They undermine the principles of unity, respect and discipline that are fundamental to the values of uMkhonto weSizwe Party.

“She must also extend formal apologies to all structures she serves in or leads, including the Southern Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament. These apologies must be made immediately.

“Following this, an internal disciplinary process will be initiated in accordance with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party constitution, code of conduct and all relevant prescripts,” he said.

Zuma warned his daughter that if she did not comply, it would lead to immediate consequences that may include the termination of her membership and a recall from all party responsibilities.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post No apology for Shivambu from Zuma’s daughter appeared first on Inside Politic.

MK Party leader Jacob Zuma has reigned in his daughter and party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla following a public spat between her and party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu on social media.

Zuma has instructed Zuma-Sambudla to publicly apologise to Shivambu as her actions on the social media were a direct violation of the party’s disciplinary code of conduct.

He warned her that failure to apologise would lead to disciplinary action.

Zuma-Sambudla went on the attack following a post on X which lauded Shivambu as worthy leader, to which she responded by saying that he was the worst thing that has ever happened to MKP.

She further launched attacks on those who were calling her out and went as far as swearing at Shivambu in response to another post that pointed her out as the biggest problem in the party.

“Floyd I am Not Scared Of YOU!!! Tell Your Minions To FUCK OFF… Bloody Mafikizolos,” she barked to another response.

Tensions between the two have been simmering for some time. Zuma, who is seen to be very close to his daughter, has sided with Shivambu.

He said in a statement on Monday night that she must issue an unconditional public apology to Shivambu, himself, members and supporters of the party as well as the people of South Africa.

“Such actions are unacceptable, divisive, denigrating and offensive. They undermine the principles of unity, respect and discipline that are fundamental to the values of uMkhonto weSizwe Party.

“She must also extend formal apologies to all structures she serves in or leads, including the Southern Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament. These apologies must be made immediately.

“Following this, an internal disciplinary process will be initiated in accordance with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party constitution, code of conduct and all relevant prescripts,” he said.

Zuma warned his daughter that if she did not comply, it would lead to immediate consequences that may include the termination of her membership and a recall from all party responsibilities.

He reminded her that MKP was a movement of the people, grounded in maximum discipline and strict adherence to the code of conduct.

“No member, regardless of position, is above the constitution of uMkhonto weSizwe,” he said.

The statement was issued on the back of a complaint laid against Shivambu addressed to Zuma-Sambudla from a member in the Zululand region, who was complaining about Shivambu’s fitness to hold office of the secretary-general.

Mxolisi Mthethwa, who identified himself as an eMalaheni zone coordinator, urged Zuma-Sambudla to act against Shivambu for what he called unprofessional conduct, citing that the secretary-general’s lack the understanding of his responsibilities.

The letter is circulating on social media,

He cited instances where Shivambu has failed to pay constituency staff and rent for office space in the province.

“He has shown a lack of understanding and competency in key areas of responsibility, leading to poor decision making and ineffective management. I urge you to take immediate action to address this situation.

“I request that you conduct a thorough investigations into the secretary-general’s performance and behavior. Take disciplinary action, up to and removal from office if necessary,” wrote Mthethwa.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Zuma warns daughter of expulsion following attack on Shivambu appeared first on Inside Politic.