Johannesburg - The spokesperson of the disbanded Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) and recently expelled member of the ANC, Carl Niehaus, has vowed to continue his one-man picket outside the party’s Nasrec conference this weekend in honour of the 61st anniversary of Umkhonto We Sizwe.
The formation of the paramilitary wing of the ANC coincides with the 55th ANC National Conference, which kicks off on Friday, December 16.
MK, as it is affectionately known, was founded by Nelson Mandela along with other colleagues in the ANC in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960.
After assessing the South African situation of preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government had met the party's peaceful demands with force, Mandela formed MK to prepare members of the ANC for war.
Over 60 years later, with the ANC set to elect a new leadership at the conference on the back of the Phala Phala farm scandal and the disbanding of five ANC structures, including the veterans association, Niehaus and other RET forces are set to continue agitating for the removal of current ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa, who has been accused of collapsing the ANC through arbitrary suspension and interim structures.
Niehaus stated that his picket aims to highlight how the current ANC led by Ramaphosa has disbanded the MKMVA in favour of a watered down body which is a mere shell of the glorious MK movement.
"The DMV (Department of Minitary Veterans) is in total shambles. We will be fighting for our rightful recognition in the life of the ANC, to resist and reject the factional and false unity arrangement and ANC faction to legitimise the MK National Council, now disguised as the so-called MK Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV), with the sole intention of destroying the MKMVA, which is the only legitimate and legal association representing MK veterans.
Niehaus added that the day of the picket will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony to be held at Petros Molefe Park, in Soweto, followed by a mini parade and later a picket at the Nasrec Conference Centre for the duration of the 55th National Conference of the ANC.
The Star