‘This is unprocedural — but worse still, it is patronising’

KWAZULU-Natal Finance MEC Zweli Mkhize has launched a blistering attack on the party’s chairman, Mosiuoa Lekota, calling on the ANC to discipline him for consistently attacking presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma.

Mkhize said in a statement that Lekota had defied the ANC’s National Executive Committee, which had cautioned him to “desist” from attacking Zuma last month.

Mkhize said the Minister of Defence was deliberately spreading “lies” and that it was time the ANC leadership took disciplinary action against him.

“That is not what he [Lekota] was elected for. We need responsible leadership before, during and after the national conference in Polokwane,” said Mkhize.

Lekota came out with all guns blazing on Thursday, saying the public would now know the “truth” about Zuma, alleging he was involved in the arms deal corruption. However, Zuma has not been charged.

Mkhize said Lekota’s statements amounted to “a sort of open kangaroo court”, with him telling his version of the “truth” to the world. Mkhize said this was “unacceptable”.

Lekota has been at the forefront of Mbeki supporters who have openly criticised Zuma’s fitness for the top job.

Mkhize said: “The attacks have been a familiar feature . .. since the nomination process started. It leads one to conclude that it has more to do with nomination trends disappointing him [Lekota] than the desire to tell the truth.”

He added that Lekota was motivated by an “intense personal dislike” of Zuma.

Mkhize said Lekota had subjected the public and ANC membership to a “barrage of lies and distortions”, which demeaned not only the office Zuma occupies but also the entire organisation.

He lashed out at Lekota for his comments that Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma would not accept any leadership nomination by Zuma supporters. Mkhize said Lekota was patronising a senior woman leader of the ANC. He said Lekota had assumed the “position of spokesperson for female comrades, deciding which position comrade Dlamini-Zuma will not accept”.

“This is unprocedural — but worse still, it is patronising to such mature leaders of the ANC.”

Mkhize said he wished Dlamini- Zuma would confirm whether they had appointed “this man” to express their views.

On the relationship between Zuma and Schabir Shaik, Mkhize said Zuma had not dealt with Shaik behind the back of the ANC leadership, as alleged by Lekota. Mkhize said there was no forum in which ANC leaders were compelled to declare their friends.

He added that Zuma was not the only ANC leader with friends who hailed from the business sector.

Mkhize said he was not alone in believing that Lekota was “incorrigible” — and that, for the purpose of setting the public record straight, he had to respond.

With acknowledgements to Dominic Mahlangu and The Times.