Former police minister Nathi Nhleko recently made headlines as he parted ways with the African National Congress (ANC), following a public dispute with secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. Nhleko, in a letter addressed to Mbalula and President Cyril Ramaphosa among others, criticized Mbalula’s remarks regarding the party’s handling of former president Jacob Zuma’s affairs. His departure highlights a deepening divide within the ANC.
Nhleko’s decision to leave the ANC stems from his disagreement with Mbalula’s assertions about the party’s integrity and his personal involvement in what Mbalula termed ‘lies to protect the former president.’
In his resignation letter, Nhleko condemned Mbalula’s remarks as indicative of a bankrupt and misguided mindset within the ANC leadership.
Expressing his disillusionment, Nathi Nhleko lamented the departure of the ANC from its founding principles. He noted that the party’s current direction no longer aligns with its historical commitment to ethics, collective action, and human rights. Like many others, Nhleko finds it distressing to witness the transformation of the ANC into something unrecognizable.
Mbalula’s Response and Continuing Conflict
In response to Nhleko’s resignation, Mbalula dismissed his reasons as a “cheap way out,” citing Nhleko’s past controversies.
The ongoing clash between the two figures underscores deeper divisions within the ANC, with Mbalula’s dismissal indicative of the challenges facing the party in reconciling differing viewpoints.
The rift between Nhleko and Mbalula surfaced earlier over comments made by Mbalula regarding Nhleko’s handling of the Nkandla controversy. Mbalula’s remarks sparked public outcry and further exacerbated tensions within the party, with Nhleko vehemently opposing Mbalula’s characterization of events.
Central to the disagreement between Nhleko and Mbalula is the interpretation of the Nkandla fire pool. Nhleko refutes Mbalula’s claims, asserting that the designation of the pool as a fire pool was made by engineers for emergency purposes, not by ANC officials. This discrepancy highlights the broader issue of accountability and transparency within the party.
Nhleko’s departure from the ANC underscores the challenges facing the party as it navigates internal divisions and strives to uphold its founding principles.
The clash between Nhleko and Mbalula serves as a microcosm of broader tensions within the ANC, reflecting a struggle for the soul of the party and its future direction.