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ON THE OFFENSIVE: Mathews Phosa

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In what appeared to be a veiled attack on President Jacob Zuma, who is hoping to remain at the helm of the ruling party after the December congress in Mangaung in the Free State, Phosa said: "Not a single person is re-assured re-election. None of us must be promised a second term.

"Comrades must assess each leader on the basis of performance, comrades must assess the collective and branches will decide who the next leadership will be."

Phosa was speaking at a gala dinner in Limpopo to raise funds for the construction of "state-of-the-art" Peter Mokaba House in honour of the late ANC Youth League president.

Phosa said the ANC leadership should not wait for elections in 2014 to confront problems, but must rather communicate now and confess failures.

He turned and told Premier Cassel Mathale, who is also Limpopo ANC chairman, that "if we haven't delivered, give us our marching orders. If we have delivered, that still doesn't entitle us to re-elections".

"We must not wait for them (ANC supporters) to burn tyres and march against us. Let's not wait for them to complain ... we must confront the reality."

He also referred to the Marikana tragedy where over 40 people were killed during a wage dispute, saying this was a clear indication of leaders who are alienated from the electorate. He said the solution (to mining problems) was economic freedom - a slogan first punted by Malema.

Phosa said the solution to this "pain of ownership" was to give miners a stake in the ownership of the mines.

"We need to ensure that miners also have a stake in the mining activities. If they don't, we will have more Marikana in future ... ownership creates stability and gives us something to protect ... all our stomachs must be full."

Soon after mentioning an instance where he had to represent Malema in one of his internal matters with the ANC, Phosa went into a narrative about how ANC members must be allowed to hold different views. He also spoke about the importance of finding political solutions in internal matters.

"You can't hold someone prisoner, democracy is not about listening to me or you. If it becomes like that then we will become a nation of zombies. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing ..."

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Sat May 18 11:28:29 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 27, 2012

tpaz

ABZ
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Sep 27, 2012

cornelius

Oh for heavens sake, is this senior ANC leader now trying to cosy up to the worst, most corrupt premier in the country ? Why, because of the Malema connection ?

Proof that the ANC leadership is just inherently morally compromised, they cannot turn the country around.
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Sep 27, 2012

Papage

The raise has began, now we know why other are trying to silent Juju. We need new Leadership now, not in December Mangaung.
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Sep 27, 2012

Mgwijikhwebu

Phosa is a Malema wannabe. He is the most ill-disciplined member in the top six. He should not be retained at all. Otherwise the ANC will be stuck with an older version of Malema.
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Sep 27, 2012

Pheli-Marabi

The only thing that can save the ANC is if they have US style presidential elections for who will lead the party.Ordinary ANC card carrying members ,not a few delegates,can vote for who will lead the party.
Otherwise i foresee disaster.
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Sep 27, 2012

ThirdEye

People that must be retained in the top six is Kgalema, Thandi Modise & Phosa. The rest must be dropped.
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Sep 27, 2012

Tango

Phosa and Thandi Modise must go
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Sep 27, 2012

Domkopp

I don't like this Phosa guy.
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Sep 27, 2012

Phunyukabemphethe

tpaz
ABZ
..........................................
I guess this acronym stand for it is "All about the zulu's" . You are welcome to correct me .LOL


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Sep 27, 2012

Papage

I Agree with you 150% Pheli-Marabi, we need such style, to interview/interogate the future president, we can't allow ANC few individuals to decide for the more than 20m members, we need to all take part so that if the chosen Leader fails, we blame ourselves not individuals, for now we can safely blame Zuma, Malema, Vavi, Phosa and all those for the poor Leadership we have in place. We need to demostarate democracy, not what we see now.
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