former Minister of Police, Mr. Ngati Nhleko;file photo
Former police minister Ngati Nhleko, who gained notoriety over the Nkandla scandal, has resigned from the ANC.
This follows an exchange with party general secretary Fikile Mbalula, who accused Mr Nhleko of lying in parliament in defense of former president Jacob Zuma during the investigation into the Nkandla scandal.
“As a result, and unfortunately, I am resigning from this African National Congress because its current values and principles do not align with mine,” Nhleko said.
In a letter to Albertina Sisulu branch secretary Tolo Fakazi, Mr Nhleko said Mr Mbalula's accusations showed “the bankruptcy, insanity and dysfunctional mindset of the Secretary-General” and regretted that the ANC He said that it has determined the barren form that the country has taken.
“In recent years, I have realized that I no longer recognize this ANC of which I joined, an ANC whose only hope is the liberation of its people.As a liberation movement, the ANC is based on good ethics. “We spoke and acted strongly. We had a collective approach. We were focused. And we emphasized humanity and freedom for all,” he said.
Mr Nhleko said he had observed a fundamental change in the ANC, which he said was sad. He said it was “hurt” to see the organization he loved so dearly turn into something unrecognizable.
This includes the gradual dismantling and privatization of state-owned enterprises. transfer control of key sectors of the economy to the “white-dominated private sector”; He said the reduction in state influence and oversight in key areas could undermine public interest and welfare, as well as the reduction in employment within state-owned enterprises leading to job losses.
“The above points represent a departure from the founding principles of the ANC, as is clear from the following: [the] There is a new emphasis on austerity measures. These austerity measures are characterized by deep cuts in social spending. For example, social grants benefiting older people continued to increase by 8% every year until 2018. “From 2018 onwards, the 8% figure is expected to reduce to an annual growth rate of 4%, with medium-term spending expected to increase by 2% to 3% annually,” he said.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsili confirmed the party had accepted Nhleko's resignation, adding that he had exercised his democratic rights.
Mr Bhengu-Motsili defended Mr Mbalula against Mr Nhleko's criticism, saying the ANC had full confidence in the secretary-general's abilities as a captain.
“There's nothing special. [in Nhleko’s resignation], any member can withdraw from membership. We've had members quit before. ”
She said Mr Nhleko should have consulted senior leadership if he had concerns about the way the organization was being run.
The former minister said party leaders had beaten each other in public and the party had been “devastated”.
“We have seen issues that ideally would be dealt with amicably within our own organizations being debated in court and in public. This means that the Center no longer belongs to the ANC. “It shows that he is not a member of the party,” he said, adding that on reflection he could not continue as a party member.
“It is difficult to continue to watch people in my community and across the country suffer because of the failures of the organizations I work for, and nothing can be done to make their lives better.”
Describing his work record as “impeccable”, Nhleko said he “carried out the tasks assigned to him to the best of his ability and dedication and did not disappoint the ANC”.
During his tenure as police minister, Nhleko launched an investigation into Zuma's political opponents and was exposed as a Zuma stooge. The Auditor General also found the department's financial management, governance, controls and leadership under Mr Nhleko to be regressive and inadequate.
He was also the subject of a R114-million civil lawsuit against Mr Nhleko, alleging that he was involved in a clandestine operation to fund unions against the Mining and Construction Workers' Union Association.
