Nathi Nhleko, a former senior government minister in South Africa, has announced his departure from the African National Congress (ANC) with a scathing critique of the party. In a resignation letter, Nathi Nhleko expressed his disappointment in seeing the ANC transform into a party that he no longer recognizes. He accused the party of implementing austerity measures and dismantling state-owned companies.
Nhleko, who was close to scandal-plagued ex-President Jacob Zuma, revealed his frustration with the direction the ANC has taken by supporting rival parties. Earlier this year, the ANC suspended Zuma for endorsing a rival party. Taking a similar course, Nhleko’s subsequent resignation aligns with Zuma’s decision to join the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party in December. Zuma is leading the party’s campaign for the upcoming general election on 29 May.
Inspired by the armed wing that fought against white-minority rule in South Africa, MK aims to attract the support of voters disillusioned by the ANC’s recent decisions and actions. While it remains uncertain whether Nhleko intends to join the MK party, the rhetoric in his resignation letter mirrors that of Zuma’s when he expressed his support for MK last year.
Notably, Nhleko gained infamy during his tenure as police minister in Zuma’s cabinet for defending the use of $23 million of government funds to upgrade Zuma’s private residence in Nkandla. The controversial renovations included the construction of a swimming pool, which Nhleko justified as a necessary security feature, referring to it as a “fire pool” in case of emergency. Other additions such as an amphitheater, cattle enclosure, and chicken run sparked public outcry.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula criticized Nhleko during the party’s campaign in January, accusing him of defending “lies” in parliament. Mbalula’s comments were seen as the catalyst for Nhleko’s decision to leave the ANC. In his resignation letter, Nhleko lambasted the party’s decisions to hand economic control over to the “white-dominated private sector” and reduce social spending, which disadvantaged economically vulnerable populations.
The ANC’s response to Nhleko’s departure was dismissive, with ANC KwaZulu-Natal Secretary Bheki Mtolo stating, “It’s good riddance, it’s long overdue.” Mtolo’s statement was perceived as a reflection of ongoing internal power struggles within the ANC.
Nhleko’s political career includes serving as police minister from 2014 to 2017 and as public works minister until Zuma was removed from the presidency by Cyril Ramaphosa. In December, Zuma declared that it would be a betrayal to campaign for the ANC led by Ramaphosa in the upcoming election. Zuma accused Ramaphosa of being a “proxy of white monopoly capital,” a claim vehemently denied by the ANC.
Recent opinion polls indicate that MK could secure around 10% of the national vote and nearly 25% in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma’s political stronghold. The ANC faces a challenging election, with multiple polls suggesting a potential loss of its outright majority for the first time since it assumed power in 1994. As the ANC navigates this crucial period, the fracturing within the party, exemplified by Nhleko’s departure, further reinforces the challenging road ahead for the ruling party.
Image Credit: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
