Former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu
Former KwaZulu-Natal premier Willies Mchunu has resigned from the ANC, citing concerns about the party's current trajectory.
Mchunu is a former ANC deputy provincial chairman and long-time ally of Umkhonto wesizwe (MK) party leader Jacob Zuma, who has criticized the ruling party's decision not to involve defectors in a national unity government. GNU) ) was established after the May 29th election.
Mr Mchunu cited the establishment of the GNU and the establishment of the KwaZulu-Natal Unity Government as important issues influencing his decision.
In his resignation letter, Mchunu said he reflected on the ANC's position after the election and no longer believed he could contribute effectively to the party.
He said the ANC had expressed different views on the direction of the party after losing its majority in the election, and had come under strong criticism for doing so.
He said he was informed that at a state executive committee (PEC) meeting, party leaders were questioning his ability to advise on such matters.
“In one group, the ANC leaders called me politically ignorant and told me that I didn't understand communism. I heard him asking for food,” Mchunu wrote.
Mr Mchunu served as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal from May 2016 to May 2019.
Mr Mchunu, a former trade unionist, has a long history with the South African Communist Party, previously serving as KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairman and a member of the SACP central committee.
While Mr Mchunu said he accepted the ANC's decision to work within the framework of a unity government, he highlighted concerns about his ability to contribute positively to the party.
“I have come to the conclusion that I am no longer adding value to the ANC and have found myself increasingly critical of some issues within both the organization and the government,” he wrote. .
Mr Mchunu also cited widespread concerns about the ANC's commitment to promoting a “national democratic revolution”, saying the current political environment made it unclear whether the party could pursue these goals.
Mr Mchunu said the decision to leave the ANC could raise personal issues, including potential criticism from party members and loss of friendships, but he believed it was necessary.
ANC KwaZulu-Natal secretary Bheki Mtolo responded to Mchunu's resignation in a letter leaked to the media, acknowledging the importance of his decision.
Mr Mtolo expressed regret, but said the ANC was a “voluntary organization” and would respect Mr Mchunu's choice to resign.
Mr Mutolo also referred to Mr Mchunu's concerns about a unity government, saying the ANC had a history of forming alliances with other political parties and had done so in the early days of democracy.
Mr Mutolo told Mr Mchunu that between 1994 and 1999 the ANC worked with the National Party, which “oversaw many of the atrocities committed under apartheid”, and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which clashed particularly violently with the ANC. It reminded me of that. KwaZulu-Natal.
Mr Mtolo pointed out that ANC leaders including Mr Zuma, Sbu Ndebele and Zweli Mkhize were working with the IFP to jointly govern the province at the time.
Mr Mtolo asked Mr Mchunu to clarify which elements of the GNU framework led him to believe that the ANC was no longer promoting a national democratic revolution.
He also discussed Mr Mchunu's views on Mr Zuma's role in the current political climate, particularly on Mr Zuma's decision to form his own political party, which has affected the ANC's support in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. questioned.
Mr Mtolo wished Mchunu well and acknowledged his contributions to the party over the years, adding that the ANC would continue to respect Mr Mchunu's teachings and achievements as a party member.
MK party sources said Mr Mchunu had not joined the party “yet”.
