Carl niehaus
OMRY MAKGOALE: 59 years of uMkhonto weSizwe & the MKMVA's need for reform
On the 2020 anniversary of uMkhonto weSizwe's formation, Omry Makgoale posits that its military veterans association needs a desperate overhaul.
MKMVA president Kebby Maphatsoe told Eyewitness News that while the statement issued earlier was a mistake, the association remained concerned about the Zondo Commission going after former President Jacob Zuma.
ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule's supporters have defied orders not to wear party regalia and many have been burning T-shirts with President Cyril Ramaphosa's face on them, demanding that he step down.
ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule is facing a string of graft allegations related to a controversial multi-million rand asbestos contract in the Free State during his time as premier.
The provincial executive committee, in a statement, raised concern over the association being used by 'dishonest figures' seeking to score political points.
The minister has been caught in a spat on social media with the MKMVA’s spokesperson Carl Niehaus after describing those demonstrating at the start of the week thugs.
Vusi Msimang told Eyewitness News that the association, unlike other structures of the ANC, had no status and should not even have an office at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters.
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe, in response to this week’s clash on social media between Minister Fikile Mbalula and the Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veterans Associations, said that such incidents were just heated but gave no clarity.
Among his string of tweets, Fikile Mbalula called out people he called "thugs" who were out to tarnish the image of the ANC.
Fikile Mbalula went on a Twitter rant on Monday, describing both the MKMVA president and its spokesperson Carl Niehaus as 'suspected criminals'.
Party spokesperson Pule Mabe said Fikile Mbalula's actions went against the ANC’s social media policy.
In a series of tweets the Transport Minister shared his views on those complaining about him claiming the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa was their milking cow and that his sin was closing the taps for their fake security companies.
A group calling themselves the Gauteng RET Movement marched through the Johannesburg CBD on 9 October 2020 to ask Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to step down as the state capture commission’s presiding officer, saying he was unfit for the position.
Supporters of former President Jacob Zuma gathered for a protest on 9 October 2020 at the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, led by Carl Niehaus, spokesperson of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association. They marched to the Constitutional Court, demanding Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo step down from the commission of inquiry into state capture, accusing him of bias against Zuma.
The Gauteng RET Jacob Zuma forces have been marching in the Johannesburg CBD to deliver their list of demands to both Raymond Zondo and Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng at the Constitutional Court.
Some employees said they received notifications while others said they were still waiting.
Earlier this week, EFF leader Julius Malema claimed that Derek Hanekom fed them with information about which ANC Members of Parliament would vote against former President Jacob Zuma in a motion of no confidence.
Organisers are expecting at least 5,000 supporters from across the country to descend on Parktown today in support of former President Jacob Zuma.
While the ANC was singing a song of unity, divisions within the party played themselves out on Twitter as senior officials lashed out at each other.