By Celani Sikhakhane
Siboniso Duma, the ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, says the party is experiencing what he called a “painful cross of renewal”.
Duma made remarks over the weekend while addressing a renewal programme for ANC structures in uMlazi.
The ANC in the province has embarked on a serious renewal programme to prevent the mass exodus of members joining former president Jacob Zuma’s Umkhonto Wesizwe party.
Duma said the party decided to “put their skins on fire” to revive consciousness among cadres.
“Renewal is like a cross to carry, and it is not going to be easy for the ANC. It means we are going to go through the pain, which is critical for the revolution to take place,” he said.
But the party was not panicking, despite members resigning.
Duma said this was a period when leaders must rise and be tested.
On Friday, the ANC was shaken by news that stalwart and former KZN premier Willies Mchunu resigned from the organisation after clashing with the KZN leadership over the arrangement of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
This development caused panic among the ANC leadership in the eThekwini region, prompting them to plead with Mchunu to withdraw his resignation.
Meanwhile, KZN ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo met with the structures of the Harry Gwala region on the KZN South Coast to discuss the renewal programme.
Mtolo leaders within the ANC and its alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu, are being hypocritical if they complain about the GNU.
He said many of these leaders participated in the “worst” GNU led by the National Party of FW de Klerk after 1994 and held positions in both national and provincial cabinets.
Pictured above: ANC leaders in KZN, Siboniso Duma and Bheki Mtolo, are grappling with the painful renewal programme as members quit to join the MK party.
Image source: X
