Mbalula faces backlash over ANC's KZN Task Team disbandment

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula was out of line in announcing the disbandment of the party’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Task Team (PTT) without first discussing the matter with the structure, said Professor Sipho Seepe.

The ANC’s National Executive Committee appointed the PTT in February after disbanding the elected provincial executive committee (PEC), whose poor performance had been linked to the party’s poor support during last year’s general elections.

The interim structure, which is led by seasoned ANC leaders - Jeff Radebe as convenor and Mike Mabuyakhulu as the coordinator, was tasked to rebuild party structures in the province in preparation for next year’s local government elections and provincial elective conference. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC’s 5th National General Council (NGC), Mbalula had accused the KZN PTT of being preoccupied with fighting to be elected into positions instead of carrying out its mandate to rebuild the provincial structure.

Seepe said without providing evidence that the PTT had failed to carry out its mandate, Mbalula was at risk of alienating the ANC in the province. 

“These are the serious allegations that he makes, and there must be evidence to that effect.

“In the absence of evidence, he is simply abusing his position as the secretary-general, which is unfortunate because Mbalula is known to say some of the things that he has not thought through,” said Seepe.

He said it was unlike Radebe and Mabuyakhulu to be desperate for positions.

“These are not junior people, and Radebe has nothing to gain (out of fighting for positions) because he has seen it all, as he was one of the longest serving ministers.

“It is not like he is looking for a lucrative position, and the suggestion by Mbalula is very serious,” said Seepe.

He also described Mabuyakhulu as a respected, seasoned politician with long service in the provincial Cabinet. 

“I don’t think he has a vested interest in any position in the province, and when you listen to him, he sounds very sober. (Siboniso) Duma was elected as a provincial chairperson, so it is not like he is desperate for the position because he is the MEC who is very active and strong.

“It is easier to throw mud at people, but difficult to make it stick, and Fikile runs a risk of alienating the KZN ANC. Also, to say something like that on a public platform without having spoken to the people (PTT members) shows arrogance,”  said Seepe. 

In expressing concern about the PTT’s slow pace of rebuilding the ANC structures, Mbalula said: “We are not happy about our performance there; we thought we were bringing a Ferrari, but it is a Tazz that is operating there. 

“KZN is a big disappointment in terms of our intervention. There are going to be changes in KZN; that structure is too big, and we are going to make it leaner and bring in new people around February.” 

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu did not respond to questions sent to her on Friday about the disbandment of the PTT.

KZN PTT spokesperson Fanle Sibisi said the PTT has not met with the NEC to discuss the concerns that led to its disbandment. 

He said the PTT was appointed to operate for nine months, which ended at the end of November, but the NEC extended its existence to the first half of next year. 

“It is within the purview of the NEC to take a decision of such nature, (which) we are not worried about as long as it is going to help the organisation, we will be there to support and ensure that the work of the organisation continues,” said Sibisi.

He said the PTT had started its task of rebuilding provincial structures; the work, he said, was a process that could not be completed overnight.

He said the PTT has appointed regional task teams (RTTs) and branch task teams across all 11 regions in the province, “which we did successfully”.

“The RTTs were also tasked to appoint branch task teams (BTT), which has been done, and at least 90% has been concluded (although) there are still challenges in some of the regions that we are attending to.

“We are in a process of building structures,” he said. 

He said the PTT would not worry about being likened to a Tazz instead of a Ferrari. 

“It would be politically immature for us to attach motions on such a statement,” he said.

Sibisi said disagreements among its leaders were there.

“Of course, in a structure (PTT) of 66 people, there would be views that are differing, but not to an extent that we are killing each other.” 

He said the disagreements were about how to implement the RTT’s mandate, “but we cannot say there was a huge crisis”.

“As people lead together, they would not always agree,” said Sibisi.

He said NEC had yet to indicate who among the members of the outgoing PTT would be featured in the new PTT to be formed early next year. 

Presenting an NEC’s mid-term report to the NGC, Mbalula did not mention the disbandment of the PTT, which he admitted to having operated under strenuous conditions of financial and material resource shortages.

He said the provincial structure, whose membership has dwindled from 62,384 to 60,487, was marked by substantially weakened branches, inconsistent leadership visibility, factional conflict, poor cadre discipline, collapse of political education, and erosion of revolutionary morality.

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said Radebe and Mabuyakhulu shouldn't have agreed to lead the task team as the ANC in the province was plagued by divisions and factionalism. 

“They walked into a trap,” he said.     

Ndlovu said as long as former president Jacob Zuma was still leading the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), the ANC would never reclaim the province.

He said voters were also now fed up with poor service delivery.

“There is also the challenge of convincing younger voters who don't care about the ANC's role in the Struggle. The task of rebuilding the ANC is not going to be easy. 

“How do Radebe and Mabuyakhulu convince young voters to vote for the ANC? The disbandment is certainly going to hurt the ANC's preparation for the local government elections,” he said.  

bongani.hans@inl.co.za