ANC lashes out at ANCYL in Gauteng over Mahlangu charges
The ANC says it is deeply disturbed by utterances made by the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in Gauteng, following the death of 94 mental health patients in the province.
The ANCYL in the province has laid criminal charges against former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and has also called on Premier David Makhura to step down.
ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa says no person should ever grandstand on anyone's pain.
"It is for this reason that the ANC finds the statements of the ANCYL in Gauteng atrocious, despicable and unbefitting not only members of the ANC but humanity at large. During this difficult period, all structures of our movement should be focusing their energies on supporting the bereaved families; it is not the time for squabbling around leadership positions and unfortunate public displays of disunity," says Kodwa.
Kodwa says people expect the ANC and government to focus and unite to help the families of the victims heal and find eventual closure.
"Where there are genuine issues of the ANCYL in Gauteng to be engaged with the leadership of the ANC in Gauteng, the ANC calls for the Youth League to raise these within acceptable organisational and societal norms. The ANC calls on the ANC Youth League nationally and the ANC in Gauteng to strongly reprimand the Gauteng ANC Youth League for their inhumane behaviour," says Kodwa.