News / National
Bheki Mtolo says Ramaphosa should also account for electoral drubbing
01 Dec 2024 at 12:42hrs | Views
In what seems to be a pushback ahead of Monday's highly anticipated meeting with the African National Congress (ANC) National Working Committee (NWC), Bheki Mtolo, the provincial secretary of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, has called for top party leaders to take responsibility for the ANC's recent electoral losses.
Speaking in KwaDukuza, north of Durban, Mtolo argued that all members of the party, from local branches to national leadership, must account for the ANC's declining fortunes, which saw the governing party lose its outright majority for the first time since 1994.
"We must all take responsibility," Mtolo stated, referring to the ANC's substantial losses in the May 29 elections. "The ANC at national level got 40 percent, meaning the NEC at national level lost the country by 40 percent. The National Executive, led by Baba Ramaphosa and Baba Mbalula, must take that responsibility. We in KwaZulu-Natal, under Duma's leadership, are taking responsibility for losing the province to just 17 seats out of 80."
Mtolo's comments come as the entire provincial executive committee (PEC) prepares to attend a compulsory meeting in Gauteng, summoned by the ANC's national leadership. Speculation is rife that the PEC, which has overseen a significant decline in the province's political support, may be disbanded following the ANC's poor performance in KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC's seat share in the province plummeted from 44 to just 17, contributing to the overall national decline, with the ANC's national vote share dropping to 40 percent.
At the KwaDukuza gathering, Mtolo acknowledged the loss but appeared to soften the critique of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other top leaders, urging introspection across the party. "We should not blame only Ramaphosa for the loss," he said. "Every member must look within and ask what we could have done differently to serve the people better."
The upcoming meeting, which has generated much speculation, will likely see discussions on the future of the KwaZulu-Natal leadership and broader questions about the party's direction. However, the ANC has remained tight-lipped about the specific agenda of the session, heightening anticipation over what might unfold.
As the ANC braces for a potentially difficult conversation, the province of KwaZulu-Natal remains a focal point of the party's internal struggles and the broader questions of accountability that continue to shape the party's post-election future.
Speaking in KwaDukuza, north of Durban, Mtolo argued that all members of the party, from local branches to national leadership, must account for the ANC's declining fortunes, which saw the governing party lose its outright majority for the first time since 1994.
"We must all take responsibility," Mtolo stated, referring to the ANC's substantial losses in the May 29 elections. "The ANC at national level got 40 percent, meaning the NEC at national level lost the country by 40 percent. The National Executive, led by Baba Ramaphosa and Baba Mbalula, must take that responsibility. We in KwaZulu-Natal, under Duma's leadership, are taking responsibility for losing the province to just 17 seats out of 80."
At the KwaDukuza gathering, Mtolo acknowledged the loss but appeared to soften the critique of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other top leaders, urging introspection across the party. "We should not blame only Ramaphosa for the loss," he said. "Every member must look within and ask what we could have done differently to serve the people better."
The upcoming meeting, which has generated much speculation, will likely see discussions on the future of the KwaZulu-Natal leadership and broader questions about the party's direction. However, the ANC has remained tight-lipped about the specific agenda of the session, heightening anticipation over what might unfold.
As the ANC braces for a potentially difficult conversation, the province of KwaZulu-Natal remains a focal point of the party's internal struggles and the broader questions of accountability that continue to shape the party's post-election future.
Source - African Times
