Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

The ANC is happy that there is an exodus of members who were not "true members" anyway.

"We are pleased with those resigning from the party because it means they were not true members of the ANC in the first place," ANC president Jacob Zuma said yesterday at the Durban funeral of activist Billy Nair.

"Those who want to leave are welcome to do so and we will continue with determination and zest to build a caring ANC.

"We are also pleased with the convention as we hope it will unmask others," Zuma said.

He said the ANC does not belong to the faint-hearted.

If it did, it would have not survived nor produced leaders such as Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela.

Zuma reaffirmed that the party will never shy away from the freedom charter.

"We could not have believed in the values of the freedom charter then if we thought that one day, they would be meaningless."

SACP secretary-general Blade Nzimande warned the ANC members who have decided to leave the organisation: "Never lift a rock if it is going to fall very hard on your feet, if not on your head."