MPUMALANGA – The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) cannot shake the feeling of being treated like a stepchild within the alliance led by the African National Congress (ANC).
The civic movement says its structures in Mpumalanga are ready to discuss why they should campaign and vote for the ANC in the upcoming local government elections if they are “not taken seriously”.
This came to light after SANCO voiced its disappointment at a recent meeting held in Mbombela, describing ongoing exclusion from various strategic centres of power such as the provincial legislature, municipal councils, and boards of entities.
SANCO Mpumalanga chairperson Vusi Shongwe told Highveld Chronicle in an interview on Thursday afternoon that they feel they are only used to campaign for the ANC, especially during election times.
“We have noted with dismay the continuous marginalisation of SANCO and the reduction of SANCO to merely an election machinery. This attitude suggests SANCO is only fit to be ANC volunteers,” Shongwe said.
“During the 2023 provincial conference, we reiterated the views expressed at previous provincial conferences that SANCO is treated as a stepchild in the alliance, particularly by the ANC.”
Shongwe added that they continue to be undermined even when their regional structure in Nkangala raised concerns about the lack of consultation on key developments in the region generally, and eMalahleni municipality specifically.
“Once again, SANCO is being undermined. It is time for SANCO structures in Mpumalanga to take a firm stand regarding this ongoing exclusion,” he said.
He further stated that the provincial working committee firmly believes the ANC in Mpumalanga has taken a hostile stance towards SANCO.
“We will be escalating this matter to the National Leadership of SANCO so that the issues can be raised with the ANC’s National Leadership. We will seek an urgent bilateral meeting with the ANC to sharply raise concerns about their hostile position,” he said.
Shongwe also said SANCO will continue to strengthen its relationship with the SACP, as agreed in a recent bilateral meeting.
The SACP, also experiencing similar “unjust” treatment as SANCO, has already declared its intention to contest state power starting with next year’s local government elections.
“Those discussions have not yet started with us. We are saying we want to strengthen our relationship with the SACP because they are speaking the same language as us. Their frustrations are our frustrations. That is why we believe strengthening our relationship with them will help push the civic movement’s agenda,” he said.
Shongwe, former MEC for Community Safety and Security, currently serves in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. He has also served in the executive council and acted as Premier when Premier David Mabuza was on sick leave. He is a member of the ANC and previously served as treasurer of the party’s provincial executive committee.
He clarified that he was not deployed as a SANCO member in the legislature.
“I was deployed as the then provincial treasurer of the ANC. So it’s a completely different story. I am speaking now in my capacity as SANCO leader, and what we are raising is a mandate of SANCO, not about me personally. It is about all civic movement members who are supposed to be represented in all those categories,” he said.
