The MKMVA: an infantile disorder
In the midst of the political storm circling around Treasury and other critical state institutions, the MKMVA has entered the fray and showed all of us which side is their bread buttered. They have done this in the most brazen form of pomp and ceremony you only expect from political adolescents like the current ANCYL leadership.
They have declared to all of us that whatever we think of President Zuma and the Guptas, the MKMVA will continue to indulge in the delicious Indian curry, however eye-wateringly hot it may be. Their obsequious, blind and kow-towing loyalty to president Zuma will seemingly be the hallmark of their political, if criminal, conduct.
In this regard, one wonders if these so-called MK Veterans have any sense of appreciation of the historical moment facing the country. If so, why would they decide to position themselves on the wrong side of history. The answer to this can perhaps be found in the genesis and composition of this structure.
A cursory glance at its establishment shows that the MKMVA was formed to cement a particularly dangerous tendency that took over the reins of the ANC since the Polokwane Conference. Their political programmes were and still about the defence of the personality cult that emerged post Polokwane conference. In a sense, their infatuation with this personality cult knows nothing else except its praise-singing and defence. Old men and women with grandchildren have been turned into a worshiping congregation of a personality cult. What a tragedy!
In terms of the composition of the MKMVA, it is easy to see that some of its leaders and vocal proponents are individuals with questionable struggle credentials. Their commitment to principle was always going to be found wanting.
Kebby Maphatsoe and Des van Rooyen have become political clowns and tools in the hands of political monarchs and unscrupulous capitalists. Otherwise how does one explain their juvenile behaviour towards our crucial governance and democratic institutions? It only shows that they are pliable political objects to be used for as long as the crumbs will come their way.
In this connection, the MKMVA has demonstrated careless attitudes towards the democratic transformation project necessary to improve the dire conditions of the poor and the working people of our country. In keeping with the nefarious agenda of their beloved cult, they have now defined themselves outside the constitutional vision of South Africa. The MKMVA have given their backs on the struggle of the African people and have spat on the graves of the heroes of our revolutionary army.
Further, the failure of the MKMVA to recognise the tragic historical moment faced by South Africa today betrays their lack of patriotism to South Africa. That South Africa faces one of its worst moments in history is to them a huge mystery. They are neither appreciative nor careful to the possibility of serious instability that may befall the country as a result of the hounding of our state institutions, including Treasury. They seem content to be the merry-band of the Gupta family and the Zuma cult that has infested and infected our state institutions to a point of near collapse.
We are very much alive to the fact that given the resources that many of our comrades are exposed to as a result of the unique position occupied by the ANC, weak, greedy and dishonourable individuals will be tempted to steal from the poor.
In this connection, the ANC necessarily expected that these opportunists will in the process emerge to try and turn the ANC into their money making scheme. When this happens, we never thought structures like MKMVA would be created to support and defend such a treacherous agenda. That is why it irks many of us to listen to the cacophonous and monotonous voice of Des van Rooyen defending the hounding of the crucial state institutions by the cult and its political bandits.
We wish to remind the MKMVA and the like-minded leadership structures such as those of the ANCYL and ANCWL that the growing voices of discontent within the ANC will not be silenced. Instead these voices will grow even bigger in their demand for thoroughgoing changes necessary within the ANC. When this happens, these structures must know that for as long as they hold anti-ANC positions as passionate praise-singers of the cult, history will consign them in its dustbin.
These leadership structures must also know that by defending and supporting the capturing of the ANC by political criminals, they have positioned themselves in opposition to the general membership of the ANC. They have now become inimical to the progressive and democratic transformation of South Africa. Consequently, the moment of reckoning is now upon us as many honest ANC members are starting to speak out, and vehemently so. There is now no turning back as the wave of discontent swells the ranks of the ANC.
In this regard, people should do well to recognise that the ANC rank and file is fast growing impatient of factionalism as their organisation faces extinction. They will soon break-rank with the factions that are killing the ANC. What will unite them in their call for drastic changes in the ANC will be their desire to save the ANC from this almost certain demise.
Anyone who think that they will exploit ANC members for their factional agenda will soon be met with resistance and will be crushed. The real ANC members are now rising to the occasion in defence of their organisation. The factionalist leadership structures of the MKMVA, ANCYL and ANCWL better be warned!
Mzukisi Makatse is a member of the ANC and writes in his personal capacity.
