Former Premier resigns after losing hope in the ANC

Former KwaZulu-Natal Premier and South African Communist Party (SACP) leader, Willies Mchunu is weighing his options following his resignation from the African National Congress (ANC) this week.

Speculation has been rife since his resignation announcement went public on Friday morning that he would be joining uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), led by Mchunu’s good friend Jacob Zuma.

Mchunu, however, speaking to the Sunday Tribune, insisted that he was in no hurry to join a new political party.

“Right now, I feel like a political orphan, and will weigh my options before taking any decision. But to say that there is a political party that I am planning on joining or MK Party for that matter is not true. I simply want to take my time to get a perspective on the circumstances,” said Mchunu.

Asked whether he would welcome engagement with former leaders including former KZN premiers Sbu Ndebele and Dr. Zweli Mkhize, as suggested by ANC Youth League KZN Secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo, Mchunu said he would not “shut the door on such a gesture”.

Sabelo had taken to social media to call for the ANC veterans to persuade Mchunu to reverse his decision, lamenting his resignation and the effect that this could have on the ANC.

Mchunu said: “I am not hostile to the idea. The thing with politics is just like in life you may give up because of the circumstances that are before you only for someone else to come and provide you with another perspective, thereby enabling you to see matters differently and then your decision is altered. But it is important to point out that this was not an irrationally taken decision, a great deal of thought was given before coming to it”, said Mchunu.

Asked whether his friendship with Zuma had been among the reasons he had become unpopular among some of his comrades and within the alliance partners, Mchunu said that it could have been the case.

Mchunu had emerged as one of the staunch critics of the Government of National Unity, pointing out why the ANC and Democratic Alliance could not work together as they were poles apart in ideological standing.

“The fact is in expressing my reservations about the Government of National Unity there are comrades with whom I became unpopular, but when one reaches a point at which one senses unpleasantness then it is time to introspect,” said the former premier.

In his resignation letter sent to the secretary of ANC Ward 33 Branch, in Glenmore, Mchunu cited a range of reasons for his decision including:

*labelled as being politically ignorant with questions over his credentials as a communist by some leaders;

*feeling uneasy in expressing his views in the ANC

“To be honest, I have discovered with horror that I have in fact lost hope in the ANC’s commitment and ability to pursue the National Democratic Revolution in the interest of the working class and the poor in the current trajectory. This hopelessness, in my view, is neither good for me nor the ANC. It makes me see myself as a destructive member rather than a member dedicated to the strengthening of the ANC. In fact, I have also concluded that I’m also no longer valued by some of my comrades,” Mchunu wrote in his letter.

He said he was aware that the move was likely to earn him enemies and have insults hurled at him, noting how this had become a trend against those who expressed unpopular views in the ANC, and said that he was ready to “swallow the bitter pill”.

“Painful as it will be, but I am sure it will be much better than the pain I feel at the moment,” Mchunu said.

In the letter addressed to the branch secretary, Mchunu hinted at his next move.

“I am also confident that, even though I leave the ANC, our paths are bound to cross again in the political terrain.”

ANC KZN spokesperson Mafika Mndebele confirmed that they had received Mchunu’s resignation, adding that they would be not issuing any statement.

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Siyabonga Ntombela noted how Mchunu had been ignored by the ANC leadership since stepping down as premier.

“It will not be surprising to see him emerging within the MK Party ranks, given his history with Zuma and how he has defended him over the years,” said Ntombela.

He said Mchunu’s move would be a major boost to the Zuma-led party and would provide a greater deal of respectability given his profile in both the ANC and SACP.