ANC not made up of thieves, thieves are prominent in ANC’ – Motlanthe – The Citizen

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe addressed the current state of the African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday, characterizing the organization’s internal challenges as being driven by the prevalence of corrupt actors. Speaking at the Ahmed Kathrada Legacy Fundraising Breakfast Series, Motlanthe argued that while the party is not inherently composed of illicit operators, such individuals have nonetheless secured a dominant position within the organization.

The discussion, titled “The State of South Africa Today,” focused on themes of governance, public trust, and the requirements for ethical leadership. Motlanthe emphasized that the trajectory of an organization is fundamentally dictated by its leadership, drawing a parallel between the management of a political party and the governance of a nation.

“The ANC is not made up of thieves. The thieves are prominent in the ANC. The thieves are dominant in the ANC,” Motlanthe stated during the event. He was joined in the discussion by Neeshan Balton, the executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

Motlanthe suggested that the responsibility for addressing these systemic issues lies with the party’s leadership, noting that they must be capable of restoring the ANC to its former standing. The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions regarding the party’s ability to maintain institutional integrity, with the conversation specifically addressing the intersection of accountability and political influence in contemporary South Africa.

The event served as a platform for evaluating the broader implications of these internal dynamics on national stability and the role of active citizenship in the current political climate.