The ANC is bleeding hundreds and thousands of members due to dirty money used in gatherings to buy votes, divisions and fights among its leaders, and perceptions of corruption committed by its members.
This is one of the startling confessions ANC president Jacob Zuma made today when opening the governing party's national general council.
Addressing more than 4000 delegates gathered at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Zuma conceded that the membership of the party had dropped from 1 million in 2012 to just under 770 000 – which represents a loss of more than 200 000 members.
Zuma, who received a lukewarm welcome from delegates, also sought to stamp his authority, stressing that there was no “league” that has the power to decide who should lead the ANC.
He also touched on factions in ANC, saying they were informed by a scramble for state resources to enrich themselves.
“We have identified negative tendencies in the past. It appears that new ones have also emerged or the existing ones are becoming entrenched. One of the complaints raised by our people is the impression of lack of discipline with the organisation and that people do as they please and undermine the authority of the ANC leadership with impunity. The ANC must not tolerate ill-discipline, hooliganism, violence and other negative behaviour,” he said.
“Most ANC branches are functioning well. Others need to be freed from negative tendencies such as manipulation, gatekeeping, or the bulk buying of membership. Such a state of affairs and other challenges with our membership system, could be the reason why our membership has dropped from more than a million members during the centenary in 2012 to seven hundred and sixty nine, eight hundred and seventy thousand (769 870) members.
The membership has dropped. Why? Because of these tendencies I am talking about,” he said.
Zuma also lashed out at the so-called “premier league” - a group of premiers of North West, Free State and Mpumalanga, accused of capturing the ANC Youth League and Women's League to further their careers in 2017.
“We also need to address the reported existence of the so-called kingmakers in the ANC, a new phenomenon. There is no structure or league of the ANC that has been accorded the status of being a kingmaker. This notion undermines internal democracy and the authority and centrality of the ANC branches,” he said.
The three premiers – Ace Magashule, Supra Mahumapelo and David Mabuza – are said to be campaigning for Zuma's third term as ANC president or for him to be replaced by African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Magashule and Mahumapelo were spotted chatting in the conference venue.
It was expected that members of the ANC and the SA Communist Party will speak against the “premier league” during the council.
Zuma lashes out at ‘premier league’
The ANC is bleeding hundreds and thousands of members due to dirty money used in gatherings to buy votes, divisions and fights among its leaders, and perceptions of corruption committed by its members.
This is one of the startling confessions ANC president Jacob Zuma made today when opening the governing party's national general council.
Addressing more than 4000 delegates gathered at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Zuma conceded that the membership of the party had dropped from 1 million in 2012 to just under 770 000 – which represents a loss of more than 200 000 members.
Zuma, who received a lukewarm welcome from delegates, also sought to stamp his authority, stressing that there was no “league” that has the power to decide who should lead the ANC.
He also touched on factions in ANC, saying they were informed by a scramble for state resources to enrich themselves.
“We have identified negative tendencies in the past. It appears that new ones have also emerged or the existing ones are becoming entrenched. One of the complaints raised by our people is the impression of lack of discipline with the organisation and that people do as they please and undermine the authority of the ANC leadership with impunity. The ANC must not tolerate ill-discipline, hooliganism, violence and other negative behaviour,” he said.
“Most ANC branches are functioning well. Others need to be freed from negative tendencies such as manipulation, gatekeeping, or the bulk buying of membership. Such a state of affairs and other challenges with our membership system, could be the reason why our membership has dropped from more than a million members during the centenary in 2012 to seven hundred and sixty nine, eight hundred and seventy thousand (769 870) members.
The membership has dropped. Why? Because of these tendencies I am talking about,” he said.
Zuma also lashed out at the so-called “premier league” - a group of premiers of North West, Free State and Mpumalanga, accused of capturing the ANC Youth League and Women's League to further their careers in 2017.
“We also need to address the reported existence of the so-called kingmakers in the ANC, a new phenomenon. There is no structure or league of the ANC that has been accorded the status of being a kingmaker. This notion undermines internal democracy and the authority and centrality of the ANC branches,” he said.
The three premiers – Ace Magashule, Supra Mahumapelo and David Mabuza – are said to be campaigning for Zuma's third term as ANC president or for him to be replaced by African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Magashule and Mahumapelo were spotted chatting in the conference venue.
It was expected that members of the ANC and the SA Communist Party will speak against the “premier league” during the council.
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