“They wanted us to write them essays and submit them to him,” Mufamadi added, referring to a letter dated October 3, 2016, in which Mantashe requested that the group provide him with the following information:

“1. Which branch of the ANC are you currently a member of?

2. What has caused you to mobilise a group of 65 (the figure is now 101) comrades outside of the structures of the ANC?
3. Please advise us who, if anyone, has paid for the costs of the mobilisation of your group.
4. Please provide a brief summary of your understanding of the objectives of the group.”

It is understood that some progress has been made in preparing for a meeting with the ANC leadership since that letter.

The letter to Mantashe, signed by Dr Frank Chikane, was also signed by three surviving Rivonia trialists, Ahmed Kathrada, Denis Goldberg and Andrew Mlangeni, as well as former senior leaders Trevor Manuel, Gill Marcus, Cheryl Carolus and Murphy Morobe.

It accused the ANC of being pre-occupied with personal interests and failing to act against corruption and nepotism. It said the ANC leadership:

• “placed the ANC in the National Assembly and the National Assembly generally in the unenviable position of breaching the Constitution of the Republic;
• “supported the politically, morally and legally wrong defence of the President for the exorbitant and questionable spending of public money on his personal house in Nkandla;
• “maligned and cast aspersions on the Office and person of the Public Protector and appeared not to provide support with the Public Protector’s recommendations. This conduct has placed the organisation in the unenviable position of breaching the Constitution of the Republic and undermining democracy itself;
• “inadequately responded to allegations of corruption; the “capture” of sections of Government by interest groups, especially and including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) – this allegedly to enrich individuals, specifically some leaders of the organisation and their families, at the expense of the people, particularly the poor and powerless;
• “appeared to collude in the removal of the former Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, in December 2015 which had a serious impact on the economy as a whole, and
• “failed to act in relation to the unfolding saga involving the Hawks and Minister Pravin Gordhan. The perception in and outside the ANC is of a government at war with and against itself.”

The initiative is intended to prepare for a consultative conference which would be managed by veterans not in the top current structures to radically re-evaluate the party and country’s direction.

“It is clear that the ANC has dishonoured (its) legacy and it has betrayed the expectations of the people of South Africa – has disappointed them – which is why in last election many people chose not to vote for it,” Mufamadi said.

The starting point should be a process of introspection involving everyone, including people who may not go to the ANC consultative conference as delegates.

“We have pledged ourselves to participate in those processes. At the same time we will interact with other non-ANC formations, because we are worried that ANC has behaved so that it is difficult to constructively engage.”

It hopes to talk to Alliance partners, people who organised the Save South Africa group, church leaders, and any others that may have views to share about the remedial measures needed.

One of Mufamadi’s main criticisms of Zuma was that it was under Zuma’s influence that “I first learnt that some people who are Zulus before anything else”.

The non-racial unity ANC built over the years is not holding as much as it should, in large measure because there are all these backward tendencies by some in the current leadership, he said.

Asked whether Zuma should go, Mufamadi said: “Mantashe said Zuma must listen to his conscience. We can only support the call he is making. Too many people have suggested that Zuma must consider doing the honourable thing, but as this platform we have not called on him to leave. But I know a lot inside and outside the party that believe South Africa would be best served by a Zuma who accepts his sell-by date has come and gone.”

Mufamadi has known Zuma for at least 30 years.

“If you asked me then is he man of integrity I would have said yes, but if you ask me now I wouldn’t give you the same answer.”

Note: After the interview a meeting with the National Working Committee of the ANC has been scheduled for early next week. DM

Photo: South African Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi during a press conference October 29, 1995. (Reuters)

John Matisonn is the author of GOD, SPIES AND LIES, Finding South Africa’s future through its past, and host of CTV’s BETWEEN THE LINES with John Matisonn.