A nationwide criminal element within the ANC is threatening to implode the party from within.
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula says it’s an element that has been there for some time and has been allowed to fester.
“Everywhere in the country, not just here in Mkhondo, there are criminal elements who do as they wish, abuse our structures, abuse our members.”
Mbalula was speaking on Wednesday in Piet Retief in Mpumalanga where ward councillor Sibonelo Ntshangase and two ANC activists, Sandile Khumalo and Sizwe Mbingo, were ambushed and killed in Longhomes township last Friday.
It is well known in the area that Ntshangase was leading efforts to fight corruption in the municipality, where a forensic investigation into maladministration and theft of public money is underway.
“We have tolerated criminality in our ranks for quite some time,” Mbalula said.
“The ANC that has attracted a mass of people to join its ranks, we did not know that we are attracting even criminals in our ranks and we need to get rid of them.”
Mbalula has been tasked by President Cyril Ramaphosa to begin a process of getting rid of corrupt councillors and mayors who captured municipalities and plundered public money.
The new ANC boss said his party deployed mediocre people into government positions “for political convenience and patronage”.
“Mediocrity has benefited out of political squabbles. People without qualifications have run down municipalities.
“Why do you employ an individual, a man or a woman without qualifications? What are you doing with the money that has been allocated?
“Why do you prioritise buying cars when the municipality has got potholes?”
At least three people, including the former mayor of Mkhondo, are behind bars on charges connected with the triple murder.
Former mayor Vusi Motha and Sifiso Sangweni were arrested for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition and appeared at the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
On Wednesday a police raid in the area led to the arrest of another man who was charged with the murder.
Mpumalanga police commissioner Semakaleng Manamela said they suspect Motha and Sangweni supplied the firearms that were used in the hit.
Another ANC councillor, Muzi Manyathi, was killed in November 2022.
Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni said some 12 political assassination cases since 2009 remain unresolved in the province.
Pictured above: ANC secretary Fikile Mbalula vows to fight criminals within the ANC
Image source: @MbalulaFikile
