‘Chaotic state of the leagues could benefit Ramaphosa’

The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association is not only in a shambolic state, with some saying it no longer exists, but a splinter group has established a separate association.

The Umkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans was formed earlier this year at a chaotic gathering in East London after some disgruntled MKMVA members staged a walkout during what was meant to be an elective conference.

This group is expected to send non-voting delegates to the ANC conference in December.

The veterans’ association was disbanded by the ANC’s national executive committee last year. At the time, the party said the disbandment was necessary, as the ANC wanted to cleanse its structures.

Former ANC acting secretary-general at the time Jessie Duarte said it could not be that the ANC Youth League had members who were 40 years old while the veterans’ association had in its midst members who were only 35.

The veterans’ association joins the ANC Women’s League and the ANC Youth League, which are both also in a chaotic state. Those at the helm have previously said the chaotic state of the leagues would benefit ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa in the upcoming December conference.

The veterans’ association is the only league with a leadership structure in place.

Ramaphosa is fighting for his political life as several senior ANC members are vying for his position.

However, those who are part of the disbanded veterans’ association believe the structure remains intact.

Steadfast Zuma supporter Carl Niehaus, who identified himself as a spokesperson for the veterans’ association, said they were still in disagreement over the disbandment of the association.

Niehaus said they had received legal advice that the ANC did not have the authority to disband the veterans’ association, as it was a registered entity.

“We continue to insist that the only legitimate structure is the MKMVA,” Niehaus said.

Niehaus said legal action in the form of an interdict had been granted against the ANC to try to block the party from recognising the Umkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans.

“We are extremely disturbed. We all came from MKMVA, and then MKMVA was superseded in East London by this new organisation,” MK veteran Fumanekile Gqiba said.

MKLWV commissar Mbulelo Musi said the group would “fight” to have voting power at the December conference, adding that it was critical for its voice to be heard.

“We are very worried about the quality of leadership. There are other things that are concerning to us as soldiers, and we would like to contribute,” Musi said.

He said they were lobbying other alliance partners.

He added that they had not met to discuss their preferred candidate.

“We avoid factionalising the ANC. We are pushing for criteria that everybody must be tested against, not because you have money to buy votes,” Musi said.

Political analyst André Duvenhage said the state of the leagues was symbolic of how things were in the ANC.

“At the moment, the leagues are disorganised. If there was stronger leadership, perhaps it would be easier to identify the lines.

“The current state of the situation is more to the advantage of Cyril Ramaphosa than his opponents,” Duvenhage said.

He said if the ANC Youth League had an elected leadership, it would probably be vocal against Ramaphosa and the government.

“All of them are very quiet. This is a very disorganised environment. They also don’t criticise Ramaphosa,” Duvenhage said.

He said the ANC Women’s League appeared to be interested in cosmetic politics.

“The women’s league seems to be falling apart. It is completely from the time of Winnie Mandela. Everyone is saying ‘give women a chance in politics’, but the Women’s League is not featured.

“It seems they are attending courts and racial incidents. They are no longer participating in hard politics. They are participating in cosmetic politics in a way,” Duvenhage said.