Former minister Malusi Gigaba speaking to senior presenter of Salaamedia Inayet Wadee Photo Nasreen Naidoo
As the voting session of the ANC’s elective conference edges closer, NEC member and former minister Malusi Gigaba says he will vote “with my conscience”. However, he shied away from mentioning the candidate of his choice, opting instead to declare that a five-year “experiment has failed”.
“My vote is going to go where my conscience directs me. I’m not a factionalist, I don’t get told how to vote,” he said, adding that “my consciousness tells me that the past five years’ experiment has failed and therefore it’s time for change.”
Speaking to Salaamedia on the sidelines of the 55th national elective conference of the ANC, Gigaba expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the current leadership that was elected in 2017.
“The country is facing enormous challenges. The ANC is facing an existential crisis to which it needs to respond,” he said. He suggested there was a “lack of political will” behind the non-implementation of certain resolutions adopted at the 54th conference.
Amidst a looming election that is anticipated to shed light on the deep divisions and factionalism within the ruling party, Gigaba stressed the need for the party to unite or risk self-destruction.
“It [the ANC] must emerge out of this conference more united and with very clear resolutions about how to get the country out of the present situation in which we find ourselves.”
He also claimed corruption, saying certain individuals – whose names he failed to mention – were showering money upon delegates to vote in their favour. He urged them to vote on the basis of competence instead.
“I wish that delegates of this 55th national conference would not vote on the basis of who gave them money in order to vote for them. They must vote on the basis of who is the most suitable to lead the African National Congress.”
After much delay, delegates were engaging in several presentations by noon on Saturday. Next up is the adoption of credentials, followed by additional nominations before voting proceeds.
