Former president Mbeki to lead ANC election campaign in Soweto
Political analyst Levy Ndou said Mbeki’s decision to campaign for the ANC again is seemingly encouraged by a commitment to the party renewing itself.
Former president Thabo Mbeki in Conakry, Guinea for his annual Africa Day lecture on 25 May 2023. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Former President Thabo Mbeki is hitting the campaign trail for the African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday afternoon with a walk-about in Soweto.
Mbeki, who has been critical of the party’s inability to address the corruption within the organisation, is expected to lead the campaign in the township which is the party's stronghold.
He had withdrawn from party events following his removal from office, making a public return to backing the ANC after Cyril Ramaphosa was elected president.
In recent times, Mbeki has become one of the party’s biggest critics, even questioning the quality of leaders in the governing party.
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But political analyst Levy Ndou said Mbeki’s decision to campaign for the ANC again is seemingly encouraged by a commitment to renewing itself.
“Thabo Mbeki has been part of the policy conference of the ANC, which has put an emphasis on the issues of renewal and on the issues of fighting against corruption and I think this is what has encouraged him to go back and campaign for the ANC.”
This comes a few days after Ramaphosa was heard on a leaked recording insisting the party’s campaign isn’t felt on the ground.