DISCIPLINE, accountability and inclusivity were among the main subjects of discussion at the roll-out of the ANC Frances Baard region’s People’s Manifesto, but punctuality was all but disregarded as hundreds of party supporters were made to wait for several hours for a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee, Fikile Mbalula, to arrive to deliver the keynote address at Jim Summers Hall in Kimberley on the weekend.
While local supporters queued to get into the venue from noon on Saturday, when the event was scheduled to commence, the keynote speaker only arrived after 4pm after apparent delays at other engagements.
ANC provincial spokesperson Naledi Gaosekwe explained that Mbalula’s visit formed part of a series of countrywide engagements with community members, which had included similar gatherings over the course of the weekend in each of the of the regions of the Province.
“Comrade Mbalula was stuck in a meeting in the Free State and thus arrived late,” Gaosekwe said in response to media enquiries. “He did apologise to the gathering at the Jim Summers Hall.
“Amongst a number of issues he spoke about was the unity and discipline of comrades in the Province.
“He also explained the reasons why we are having the roll-out of engagements across the country.
“All five regions in the Province held successful engagements and we are confident that there were positive inputs made to the manifesto."
Meanwhile, with hundreds of ANC supporters patiently waiting for the guest of honour to arrive to deliver his keynote address, the party’s regional chairperson, controversial former Sol Plaatje executive mayor and newly sworn in MPL, Mangaliso Matika, delivered a word of welcome that encouraged members to hold the leadership accountable for their actions and to take ownership of the party.
He also urged leaders not to allow their personal ambitions to be to the detriment of the ANC.
“We must not destroy the ANC because we want to lead at all costs,” Matika told the audience. “We can’t be the kings and queens of redeployment and place ourselves ahead of the party.
“We (leadership) are not the ANC but simply part of it.
“The party is bleeding and we can’t keep quiet.
“As leadership, we are here to be corrected.”
“If I am the problem then you must tell me because the ANC is bigger than all of us. We need comrades to speak out.
“People love the ANC but without the party we would be left on our own. We are leading at your mercy so don’t be afraid to tell us.”