Zuma BEE row splits reds
THE Young Communist League ) is divided on how to deal with what is seen by many as self-enrichment by individuals close to President Jacob Zuma.
YCL leadership yesterday distanced itself from a hard-hitting opinion piece penned by its chairperson David Masondo criticising the recent business deals involving members of Zuma's family.
Writing in City Press, Masondo described the recent multi-billion rand Acelor-Mittal deal involving Zuma's son, Duduzane, as an example of how narrow BEE had become. He labelled the process ZEE (Zuma Economic Empowerment).
"To crown it all, the president's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, seems to have suddenly become an African imperialist, amassing oil resources in the DRC."
In its statement, the YCL accused Masondo of attacking Zuma "as both the president of ANC and the country".
YCL spokesperson Gugulethu Ndima said: "This is an extraordinary decision by the YCL to denounce the action of one of its leaders in public, but since this has been done in public, we have no choice but to take this action in the interest of organisational cohesion and unity."
But Sowetan understands that the decision to distance the league from Masondo is not supported by all its national office bearers.
One member said: "The decision is unnecessary and has divided the YCL. Why should the YCL alienate cadre David for expressing an opinion?"
Several members of the league, writing on the online forum, also came out in support of Masondo.
Wrote Trevor Kekana: "I am shocked that some in the YCL are so terrified that they want to single out the chairperson in this manner. How many times have either the secretary or chairperson written or spoken on issues that are in the public domain without such statements being issued?"
Wrote Zamikhaya: "True and real revolutionaries should unapologetically engage with the issues that comrade Masondo is raising. There is no need to nail him to the cross."
Baleli
I see no problem in what Masondo has said. In fact he has talked about something everyone is thinking of but avoiding to comment.Zuma once said if Malema wants to discuss matters, "it is healthy that others then engange him in this talks".
So i suggest that Zuma practices what he says and engange Masondo in what he has already started and all of us will want to hear what the outcome is.
A lot of people out there have been trying so hard to get these BEE deals but to no avail and yet we read in papaers about what deal has been reached and for how many billions.... is the rest of nation using the wrong address to apply for these deals?
Report Abuse
Charmaboy
Masondo is more than right. Nnete e ya baba. Everybody knows what is happening and we are just quite pretending as if everything is going smoothly. Viva Masondo!!!!!Report Abuse
SimbaT
How do we equate what Masondo said to counter-revolutionary?? Cde David was just blunt in his analysis and nothing personal or intended to disparage Zuma and his million kids..This BEE notion has lost direction and covertly refers to self enrichment at the expense of the masses and continues to corrode founding principles of the ruling party and the freedom charter. Zuma is costing the state billions of rands from all angles and we expected to be dumb about that??? Hell no, his days are numbered and thats a fact..Recent strike by the public servants could be cited to attest his lack of decisive leadership,how do you visit China of all the places when your country is in turmoil??? The list is endless, Nyanda, Zuma, Malema...I will never vote for the ANC again for as long as Zuma and Malema ARE STILL PRESIDENTS....Report Abuse
snokwi
This is not Suprising as he is using Marriage and his Wifes for his self enrichment.You must know we are footing the bill for each Wife,Child and himself.If that is not self enrichment I dont know what is it.Remember we still gonna pay even after his term of office expired and he doesnt become the President anymore.Report Abuse
Socrates
WAy to go Masondo, atleast you have not become one of the many sycophants receiving showers everyday to nod even when Zuma is wrong-by the way he is never right on anything. The truth must be said, his family is as corrupt as him-learned from the best and sadly the our so-called president sees nothing wrong in his family suddenly signing all the big deals since he took over the presidency.What Mpshe did now comes back to haunt us-he should have had his day in court and he will be with his dying Friend-Shabbir Shaik
Report Abuse
Mlate
Guys I'm tired of these people who are only using us to inrich them self. It is upto us to expose those who pretend to help us while knowing that we their freeway to be supper rich. Bua com Masondo bua...............Report Abuse
MzansiBoy
Well stated Masondo. But the ANC might just give you a tender or two to shut you up. Look at your elder Blade. All they had to do was give him enough cash to buy luxury cars and stay in top hotels and he completetly forgot that he was a communist and communist live a simple life.What is the point of Masondo's statement anyway? Come election time the YCL, COSATU and SACP will be voting for the "party" even if the "party" is taken over by thieves. All the good men and women have left the ANC, only thieves are left and those like Masondo are just waiting for their turn to also rape and pillage the country. And you guessed it: they will be using the gullible masses' votes to climb all the way to the top of the food chain.
Watch this space...
Report Abuse
Pravda
Chairperson Masondo has hit the nail on the head. It is about time civil society stood up to the mess that is currently taking place in our country. The country is being led down an abyss by the Pied Piper and we seem to be blindly following the Piper deeper into this hole. Yet we the citizenry end up crying foul about the lack of service delivery, looting, media freedom threats, nepotism, pillaging, self-enrichment happening so brazenly.Perhaps more shocking is the apparent nonchalance of the president when questioned on nepotism; he says there is absolutely nothing wrong for one of his own to be involved in business, which of course at face value is correct. However, ethically and morally it is unacceptable that the first family members ought to use their association with that office for family self-anggradisement, what the Chairperson aptly terms ZEE.
If this democracy has to mature,it is about time the citizenry, civil society, CBOs, NGOs, the private sector, religious leaders and every stakeholder hold our government accountable to the tenets of the constitution. This is a constitutional state, where the constitution is the supreme law of the land, to which everyone, including the state president, is subject.
The YCL might deem it politically expedient to hang its chairperson to dry in the short run. However, in the long run, the chairperson will be vindicated for showing true leadership and bravery when an easy thing to do would have been to betray his principles for short term political gains. South Africa needs a lot more of leaders of the calibre of Mr. David Masondo if it is to realise its full potential and flourish in the league of progressive world nations where democracy, freedom of speech & thought, meritocracy and rule of law reign. What the country does not need is to be competing in the league of nations of shame where corruption, dictatorship, disdain for human rights, nepotism and rule by fear are the order of the day.
Report Abuse
CheeseBoy
Zuma is raping the country whilst everyone watches. You will never get a tender without bribing someone or knowing someone affiliated to Zuma and his cronies.Most of his family and close allies have become instant millionaires in the last couple of years and the man on the street who voted them into power is left holding nothing. its sickening
Report Abuse
Madyeke
I think cde David is right for expressing his personal opnion and comrades should begin to differeciate between right and wrong. What ever who did it. Emahlweni na ku vulavula ntiyiso emahlweni !!!!Report Abuse