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South Africa’s former President Thabo Mbeki has vowed to remove “rotten apples” and “thieves” from the governing African National Congress (ANC) party.
The 81-year-old was on the campaign trail for the ANC for the first time ahead of elections in May. He made the pledge in front of cheering crowds in Soweto.
Mr Mbeki, who served as president from 1999 until 2008, said he felt the ANC was still the party for people, it just needed to be “fixed”.
Addressing the crowds in Xhosa and English, he acknowledged the issues facing the ANC: “Inside the ANC there are rotten apples and thieves. “Thieves that wear a T-shirt like this,” he said pointing to his own top. “We need to get rid of them so that this party can be one that you know. I promise that when I say vote ANC, I promise that we will fix the ANC.”
The ANC faces the challenge of smaller parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by Mr Mbeki’s successor Jacob Zuma.
Mr Zuma was forced to step down as president in 2018 because of corruption allegations. Three years ago, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail for failing to testify at an inquiry into the allegations, though he only served three months on medical grounds.
It has led to divisions and infighting within the ANC. Mr Zuma was suspended from the party in January after announcing that he would campaign for MK. — BBC
Online Reporter