Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

Senior KwaZulu-Natal ANC member and Thabo Mbeki supporter Siyanda Mhlongo has resigned to join the Congress of the People as the party's new provincial spokesman.

"It [the ANC] has abandoned the Freedom Charter, the Constitution and is dominated by immoral leadership," Mhlongo," said at a press briefing in Durban yesterday.

He said he left the ANC because he was frustrated "in the ANC led by Jacob Zuma".

"The ANC is determined to assist Jacob Zuma in dodging his day in court. There are many questions that JZ must answer either in court or in public rather than creating scapegoats for his skirmishes with the law," he said.

"Sentiments are secondary to principles. Having had a conversation with my moral conscience, I am leaving the ANC to join Cope."

Mhlongo tendered his resignation at 9am yesterday.

He said he believed he was a target for senior provincial ANC leaders because he had spoken out against corruption.