ANC Moves to Discipline Malusi Gigaba and Senzo Mchunu Over Controversial Remarks

The African National Congress (ANC) has signaled that it will take disciplinary action against senior members Malusi Gigaba and Senzo Mchunu after recent public statements the party says have undermined its unity and credibility.

Remarks Spark Controversy

The issue erupted when Gigaba, speaking at a tombstone unveiling for struggle stalwart Nokuhamba Nyawo in Ngwavuma, KwaZulu-Natal, voiced concerns about internal divisions within the party. He warned that the ANC risked losing its relevance if it failed to act cohesively ahead of upcoming local government elections.

“We are preoccupied with our little corners, our little groupings. There doesn’t seem to exist the possibility for us to get up briefly from these little groupings, so that we can now discuss what is … in the best interest of our country, of our movement, of our people,” Gigaba said.

Mchunu also raised alarm about the party’s trajectory, describing the ANC as “on the brink of collapse” if it does not regroup.

ANC Response

In a strongly worded statement, National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu emphasized that both leaders acted outside sanctioned organisational protocols. “Their statements sow discord and confusion and weaken the people’s confidence in their movement,” Bhengu said.

The ANC stressed that all communications must follow the authority of the Secretary-General, operationally overseen by the National Spokesperson. Any deviation, the party said, threatens internal cohesion and discipline.

Political Fallout and Public Reaction

Social media reactions have been swift, with supporters of both sides debating the balance between free expression within the party and the need for internal unity. Some have called the move a necessary step to protect the ANC’s revolutionary legacy, while others view it as heavy-handed.

Bhengu underlined that accountability applies to everyone: “No disciplined comrade would, of their own volition, make statements that embolden forces that have long sought to reverse the gains of our revolution.”

As South Africa approaches crucial local elections, the ANC’s handling of this internal dispute will be closely watched, both by its members and the public, as a litmus test for how the party manages dissent and preserves its cohesion.

{Source: IOL}

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