Abel Tau, former leader of the now defunct political party, The Transformation Alliance (TTA) Abel Tau, has resigned from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party with immediate effect.
In a resignation letter he sent to the nascent Jacob Zuma- led organisation , Tau says he no longer believes he can add value to the party’s current direction.
In the letter addressed to the MK Party’s Gauteng and Tshwane leadership, as well as Secretary-General Sbonelo Nomvalo, Tau thanked the party for the opportunity to serve but said its agenda no longer aligned with the principles that had motivated him to join.
“I unfortunately do not see myself adding any value to where the party is going at this juncture,” Tau wrote.
He stressed that his decision should not be viewed as an affront on the party, saying he had no intention of “bashing or trashing” the MK Party or its leadership.
Instead, Tau said he had accepted that the party’s current direction no longer reflected the vision that had prompted him to dissolve his own political organisation, The Transformation Alliance (TTA), to support efforts aimed at building a united left.
“My intention is not to bash or criticise the party or the manner in which it is pursuing its agenda, but rather to accept that its current direction no longer aligns with the principles that led me to dissolve the party I had established, The Transformation Alliance (TTA), in an effort to contribute, however modestly, to the call for a united left in pursuit of the total emancipation of all our people,” he said.
Despite his departure, Tau wished the MK Party well ahead of the upcoming local government elections and expressed hope that it would continue representing the aspirations of its supporters.
“I wish the party well in the upcoming local government elections and in all its efforts to represent the aspirations of the many voters who continue to believe in it as a viable vehicle through which the aspirations of black people, in particular, can best be advanced,” he wrote.
Tau concluded his letter by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve under the MK Party banner, saying the friendships he had built and the lessons he had learned would make him “a better leader and patriot.”
He signed off with the words: “Until our people are completely free, the struggle continues.”
Tau did not disclose what prompted his resignation or indicate whether he intends joining another political party.