Johannesburg – The African National Congress (ANC) said the refusal of the now defunct uMkhonto Wesizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) to disband was designed to create an impression that there was a crisis in the party.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said on Tuesday that there was nothing new about bringing former combatants together and the decision was adopted at the ANC’s 2017 elective conference.
The MKMVA and rival group, the MK National Council – which emerged ahead of that conference, are made up of former generals of the ANC’s liberation army.
On Tuesday, MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus released a statement calling the decision to dissolve the association “emotional and angry” – linking it to their continued support for former President Jacob Zuma.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said public utterances made by Niehaus are being noted, and will be dealt with by appropriate structures.
Mabe said this type of action brought the organization into disrepute.
“To display what looks like defiance today is nothing else but the need to create an impression that there is a crisis, when there is none,” Mabe said.
This past weekend suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule, a close rally of many in the MKMVA, encouraged structures to defy the ANC’s instructions if it decided to disband them.
