Former Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has resigned from the ANC, stating the Party’s “current values and principles are not aligned [with his own]”.
This is according to a seven-page letter addressed to the Albertina Sisulu Branch, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, among others.
The news comes shortly after a heated exchange with party secretary general Fikile Mbalula, who resurfaced accusations that Nhleko lied in parliament to protect former President Jacob Zuma during the investigations into his Nkandla residence.
In 2015, Nhleko infamously tried to justify the lavish upgrades to the Nkandla residence as necessary security measures. This included the “fire pool” – a term used to euphemistically describe the swimming pool at Zuma’s residence.
Despite the bitter tone under which Nhleko handed in his resignation, he stated, “record of service to the nation is impeccable.” This personal assessment may, however exclude his exposed role as a “Zuma henchman” during his tenure as police minister.
Nhleko described the criticisms levelled against him as evidence of “bankruptcy and lunacy” in ANC leadership. Additionally, he pinpointed a “deviation from the ANC founding principles,” as the driving force behind his decision to step down. Among the concerns he raised were:
- The gradual dismantling of state-owned enterprises which inadvertently exacerbates existing inequalities
- The transfer of control of crucial economic sectors to the white-dominated private
- A diminishing state presence, potentially jeopardising public welfare.
“In the past few years, I have observed that I no longer recognise this ANC that I joined,” said Nhleko.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri confirmed that the party had received Nhleko’s resignation, stating it was “nothing special” and “We have had members resign before.”
“It is difficult to continue watching people in my community and all over our country suffer because of the failures of an organisation that I am part and parcel of and can’t do much to serve their lives for the better,” Nhleko stated in his resignation, however, he concluded that he had faith the ANC would eventually “veer away from serving certain individuals and interests,” and serve South Africa again.
