The ANC’s general secretary, Mr. Fikile Mbalula, wants an end to friendly selection when mayors and councilors are appointed. Mbalula has instructed ANC members to choose people with blood and hard work when they are appointed to represent the organization in the local government elections.
He said this while speaking at a memorial service for ANC activist who was sentenced to death, Mr. Solomon Mahlangu. The ANC will begin the process of appointing its representatives in the elections this month. The dispute tends to heat up when the ANC appoints its representatives.
Mbalula said this year he wants to appoint people who deserve positions.
“We don’t choose dishonest people, we choose our friends. Let’s choose people who are loved by the people, who serve the community. We will not choose your friends when we appoint mayors.”
Mbalula said that the ANC is continuing with the campaign to fix the municipalities, and said that this campaign has begun to bear good fruit.
He said that if the ANC leaders continue with this destruction, he has no doubt that they will do well in the local government elections and he said that he sees that they will bring back the Tshwane Municipality.
“If you continue like this, I have no doubt that we will bring back this municipality. The people who took over this council did nothing when they were in power. That’s why I say we will bring back this municipality. What we should do is focus on our campaign, not paying attention to what other parties are doing. We should do tangible things, not just say slogans,” said Mbalula.
He said: “People should trust the ANC. People will trust the ANC if its leaders work with integrity. They are playing when those who say that the ANC is over. Do not argue with these liars. The person who will kill the ANC has not been born yet. Oliver Tambo said that the ANC will not be killed by anyone, he said that it will kill itself.”
Mbalula said that it is almost time for them to issue guidelines on the issue of their relationship with their alliance that has decided to contest the election, the SACP. Mbalula said they will make a decision soon, and said it will be very tense.
“It won’t be two weeks without us issuing a guide. Dams with water will burn. It will be clear where we are going. We are discussing this matter with them and they know their mistakes.”
Mbalula praised the courage of Mahlangu who was a soldier in the ANC, Mkhonto we Sizwe.
Mahlangu was hanged in 1979, at the age of 22.
“We decided that we should remember this day every year. This is a story that should be told to the young. We should know that we did not get freedom easily. Mahlangu died for this freedom. He was killed when he was young and brutally killed by the apartheid government,” said Mbalula.