ANC Western Cape Statement on the proposed Seskhona March to our Offices

The ANC is bewildered and dismayed by actions of Seskhona that seek to march to our offices and is even more puzzled by the City of Cape Town in granting Seskhona the right to march to the ANC offices. This action will undoubtedly cause pandemonium in the city with the business district put at risk and the city centre rendered dysfunctional. This effectively fulfills Seskhona's prophesy of rendering the city ungovernable and the city is anchoring their cause.

The ANC rejects as misguided and mischievous the perception by Seskhona leaders, that they can turn supporters of the ANC, who sympathize with their cause, against it, to the extent that they presume they can propose to march to the ANC offices on some perceived grievances. Members of the ANC who partake in any activity that brings the party into disrepute will undergo disciplinary processes of the ANC as they are at all times expected to uphold ANC principles.

The Mangaung Resolutions are very clear on what is expected of each member.

1. Any actions of members that seek to undermine unity and cohesion of the movement will be disciplined

2. There is no political organisation that can survive without the ingredients of discipline

3. No one is bigger than the collective, and anyone who thinks that they are bigger than the organisation will endure the same consequences suffered by those who opt to undermine the ANC

Members of the ANC support all social activist organizations that advance interests of the disenfranchised; however, they are not confused about their political affiliation. We call on all our members to continue to be steadfast, support all civil organizations that stand for good causes, and to reject any civil organization that seeks political point scoring against it without subjecting itself to political process.

The ANC supports all programmes of government that are geared towards job creation, economic growth as well as infrastructure spend, which will have positive spinoffs for private sector job growth. The ANC itself however is not an employment agency and any insinuation that we possess in our power; the ability to directly employ people such that if people are not employed, we are directly sabotaging such employment, is both ignorant and dangerous.

Of course when people are led by offspring of the movement, who are clueless about machinations of economic systems, you will have those who trivialise people's emotions and abuse people's momentary challenges, to lead them into misplaced resentment.

As the ANC we acknowledge that the environment in the Western Cape and city of Cape Town, of fragmented service delivery and disdain for those who live in historical confinements of our past, gives impetus to the Seskhona's aspiration of rendering this city ungovernable. Although we have supported their cause, and continue to do so, we have always rejected their methods.

As the ANC, we are an organization with political and governing responsibilities and any organization that seeks to be associated with us must abide by such responsibilities.

Statement issued by Songezo Mjongile, ANC Western Cape Provincial Secretary, November 5 2014

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