Cape Town - ANC president hopeful, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has called for fairness and an unbiased approach in the handling of the Phala Phala report involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mkhize was speaking to political analyst, Professor Sipho Seepe on Thursday, about the upcoming ANC 55th elective conference.
“We must all be very clear that these are very serious allegations and they are very damaging to everyone. To the president, the ANC and to the government; so we need the matter to be cleared. We must deal with it because then when we go out to the public we should be able to create a clear impression that the ANC supports democracy and constitutionalism, and that the process of clearing this matter is a fair and an unbiased approach,” he said.
Mkhize, who is a former minister of health, also detailed his plans for the ANC should he be elected at the party’s conference in Nasrec.
“I have led the ANC at the provincial level and my reputation has been that of unifying everybody,” he said.
Mkhize also said he hoped to restore the faith of South Africans in the governing party.
He also raised concerns that the step-aside rule was being used to target “certain individuals”.
Seepe said Mkhize also provided an insightful take on the level of divisions within the party and how this could be remedied.
“Fundamentally the issue is around the party remaining true to its mission and reconnecting with the grassroots. He acknowledged that at the moment the party remains largely disconnected. He placed emphasis on self-reliance and self-determination. He forcefully rejected the notion of ‘9 wasted years’ pointing out that this reflects the height of hypocrisy. He was also of the view that the state organs have been weaponised to resolve political disagreement. He was confident that his background and experience stood (him) in good stead to lead and serve the people of this country,” Seepe said.
Cape Times