Zweli Mkhize: We must teach ANCYL some respect
The Treasurer General of the African National Congress (ANC) Zweli Mkhize has taken the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) to task after its members disrupted a memorial service for the late struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada in Durban on Sunday.
Members of the ANCYL heckled both Mkhize and former finance minister Pravin Gordhan when they addressed mourners at the memorial.
"The memorial was marred by heckling against me, but at a personal level such heckling does not affect me. I have been through worse situations and understand this is politics," Mkhize said in a statement.
He added that although heckling is some people's way to express themselves, it is clear that the ANC leadership needs to urgently "embark on political education".
"We need to teach our youth tolerance of different views and respect for the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
"On behalf of the ANC we wish to apologise to those who were invited, for the embarrassment and inconvenience caused. The behaviour remains unacceptable as it erodes on the respect for the ANC," he said.
Mkhize believes the ANC leadership needs to urgently dismantle the different factions in the organisation.
"We need to urgently rebuild unity and deal with differences which play out in the open and we call on all comrades to avoid using such solemn occasions to exacerbate tensions and embarrass the ANC," he concluded.