THE ANC came under sharp criticism yesterday, with some Afrikaner groupings telling the ruling party that its government was incompetent.
The group of about 70 white and coloured Afrikaans academics, church leaders and representatives from cultural leaders, raised concerns with the ANC, including that head of crime intelligence Richard Mdluli was a "very bad side of government".
The group met with ANC leaders led by its secretary general Gwede Mantashe at the Balalaika Hotel in Sandton yesterday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, a representative from the Voortrekker Monument, Sonja Lombard, said rampant corruption within government structures was a major concern.
She said the country currently loses about R300-million to corruption - money that could be used on service delivery.
"The money could be used to alleviate poverty and grow the economy," Lombard said.
ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa said the ANC leadership was attacked on cadre deployment policy.
"Various groups felt the merit has been undermined," he said.
Phosa said the Afrikaner leadership had also questioned what message the party was sending by keeping Lieutenant-General Mdluli in his position.
Mdluli represented "a very bad side of government", they said.
Phosa said issues of language, culture and societal alienation would be discussed further and addressed because it was wrong that some people in the country were unhappy.
"Alienation does not only affect white people, but also coloureds and blacks."
He said this could be in the form of poverty and unemployment.
Phosa admitted there were certain weakness that were confronting the nation.
"Our view is that we should meet more often, not only with them, but many other stakeholders in a much more structured and regular way.
"Things that are wrong must change. There is no need to have a nation where there is unhappiness," Phosa said.
Mantashe said the party was not galvanising votes.
"Elections are in 2014, so I do not see how this would be seen as a way of trying to get votes," he said.
Some of the people there included ANC Youth League leader Abner Mosaase, Agricultural Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, conveners of the ANC's Progressive Business Forum Daryl Swanepoel and Renier Schoeman, the SA Onderwyser Unie, NG Kerk and Afrikaanse Taalrand. - nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za
Afrikaners lambast ANC
THE ANC came under sharp criticism yesterday, with some Afrikaner groupings telling the ruling party that its government was incompetent.
The group of about 70 white and coloured Afrikaans academics, church leaders and representatives from cultural leaders, raised concerns with the ANC, including that head of crime intelligence Richard Mdluli was a "very bad side of government".
The group met with ANC leaders led by its secretary general Gwede Mantashe at the Balalaika Hotel in Sandton yesterday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, a representative from the Voortrekker Monument, Sonja Lombard, said rampant corruption within government structures was a major concern.
She said the country currently loses about R300-million to corruption - money that could be used on service delivery.
"The money could be used to alleviate poverty and grow the economy," Lombard said.
ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa said the ANC leadership was attacked on cadre deployment policy.
"Various groups felt the merit has been undermined," he said.
Phosa said the Afrikaner leadership had also questioned what message the party was sending by keeping Lieutenant-General Mdluli in his position.
Mdluli represented "a very bad side of government", they said.
Phosa said issues of language, culture and societal alienation would be discussed further and addressed because it was wrong that some people in the country were unhappy.
"Alienation does not only affect white people, but also coloureds and blacks."
He said this could be in the form of poverty and unemployment.
Phosa admitted there were certain weakness that were confronting the nation.
"Our view is that we should meet more often, not only with them, but many other stakeholders in a much more structured and regular way.
"Things that are wrong must change. There is no need to have a nation where there is unhappiness," Phosa said.
Mantashe said the party was not galvanising votes.
"Elections are in 2014, so I do not see how this would be seen as a way of trying to get votes," he said.
Some of the people there included ANC Youth League leader Abner Mosaase, Agricultural Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, conveners of the ANC's Progressive Business Forum Daryl Swanepoel and Renier Schoeman, the SA Onderwyser Unie, NG Kerk and Afrikaanse Taalrand. - nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za
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