OPINION: Sisulu's comments motivated by personal ambition

It is not only disturbing but embarrassing that Lindiwe Sisulu has questioned ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe's credentials.

Sisulu argues that Mantashe does not know the ANC because he was neither in exile nor on Robben Island. Her remarks simply undermine the work of comrades who faced the apartheid regime on a daily basis.

The fact that she questions "where was Mantashe when we were fighting for this freedom in exile and in jail", suggests that our freedom was fought for in the two places she cited.

Unfortunately for her, Mantashe could not be found in any of those two places she mentioned.

Exile was used as a base from which the movement operated, it was not a pillar. It is hypocrisy on Sisulu's part to suddenly discover Mantashe's lack of credentials simply because he did not endorse her presidential ambitions.

Mantashe was actively involved in the United Democratic Front, is a founding member of the National Union of Mineworkers, is a leader of the SA Communist Party and had regular consultations with ANC leaders outside the country.

It is also childish for her to claim that the Congress of the People (Cope) was formed because of Mantashe. Cope was formed as a consequence of former president Thabo Mbeki's recall.

Sisulu must tell South Africa what Mantashe said in the national executive committee (NEC) meeting called to discuss the decision to recall Mbeki.

The decision was taken by the majority of NEC members, and Mantashe, being the secretary-general, had to communicate and defend that decision.

That is called organisational discipline. Sisulu fails to tell us how Cope collapsed in 2014.

In the run-up to Polokwane in 2007, the then secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe was on Jacob Zuma's slate, but was never asked to step down.

To now say Mantashe lacks objectivity because he appears on Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's slate is laughable.

Mantashe mentioned a simple truism: the ANC will have to explain to South Africa why, if Ramaphosa is not elected president of the party in December.

He further argued that there will be a crisis if the current president refuses to hand over power to his deputy. The deputy president is groomed to take over in future.

If that, for whatever reason, does not happen, then there must be an explanation.

Most comrades who support Ramaphosa argue on the basis of tradition, which is different from the debate raised by Mantashe.

To indicate his objectivity, Mantashe also argues that there is no such tradition in the ANC.

This is called objectivity and should be applauded as he is able to argue against wrong arguments raised by different groups that support different candidates.

Again, I'm at pains to understand why some in the organisation believe that Mantashe has the sole responsibility of building and strengthening the alliance.

Unfortunately, this belief is entertained by Sisulu who has served in the NEC from 1991 after the unbanning of the ANC.

This is an insult to all other NEC members as the role of the secretary-general is, among others, to implement the decisions of the organisation.

Sisulu's comments on Mantashe are motivated by her ambitions to be the next president of the ANC.