By Zuko Komisa
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to Former Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba on various issues affecting the African National Congress (ANC), he also shared his views of the upcoming ANC Elective Conference.
A brief look at his political career:
Former president Jacob Zuma appointed Gigaba to the position of minister of home affairs in May 2014.
When Pravin Gordhan was replaced as minister of finance by Gigaba on March 31, it led to speculation that Zuma had sent Gigaba along to help him establish his allegedly corrupt ties with the Gupta family.
Nhlanhla Nene succeeded Gigaba as Minister of Finance on February 27, 2018, when Gigaba was fired.
Following the introduction of his new cabinet, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Gigaba to replace Ayanda Dlodlo as Minister of Home Affairs.
Gigaba announced his resignation as the minister of home affairs on November 13, 2018, and on November 15, 2018, he also announced his resignation as a National Assembly member.
LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE:
On the upcoming ANC Conference
“I think for a while we were spoiled from the time of Chief Albrt Luthuli, up until the second term of President Thabo Mbeki, that the position of President was always uncontested and at some point Prersident Tambo didn’t want to be president and was under heavy criticism, and the NEC had to go and fetch him.”
“On several occasions I have argued that the bar has not only been lowered, but has even been removed. Anybody feels they can lead the ANC.” says Gigaba
On ANC’s renewal program
“The ernewal program shifted to what we call the renewal committee, which is made of former member who don’t have a current responsibility but the renewal must be led by the current leadership, that was the first mistake we made.”
“The second mistake we made with the renewal process was that we didn’t add a program for social change in society, because the renewal of the ANC can not happen in a vacuum. It must happen for a reason and must be driven by a process in society.” says Gigaba
On the country’s lack of infrastructure
“The overall political mission at the moment is to dispose of SOEs and to boost the role of the state in the economy and that is the problem because that is a neo-liberal program which has not been effective in any country in Africa, and that will not benefit South Africa. “
“The reason we have lack of infrastructure in the African continent is precisely because African countries in th 80s were told to privatise their SOEs and they were told this would lead to investments and grants but those grants where not forthcoming and we now have lack of infrastructure.” says Gigaba
