Mzwanele Nyhontso, president of the PAC. Picture: Armand Hough /Independent Newspapers
PAC president Mzwanele Nyhontso, who is also Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, has rubbished claims the organisation took a “sell-out” position by joining the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Nyhontso said the PAC was participating in the GNU because there was no outright election winner, not because they were selling out.
“We are participating in the GNU because we were invited to form a government; if there’s no GNU, people must come up with solutions.
“Government had to be formed, the country had to move forward and services had to be provided to the people. If there was no government, how was that going to happen?” he asked.
He further said Mbuso Dlamini, the party’s deputy secretary general, was not a member of the party as he wasn’t renewing his membership.
Dlamini released a statement on Wednesday denouncing Nyhontso’s participation in the GNU, and saying the party had taken a “sell-out” position.
Dlamini accused Nyhontso of not consulting party officials and structures prior to joining the GNU.
“He didn’t consult the NEC or any PAC structure. It was only him and [general secretary] Apa Pooe who took the decision to be part of the GNU. We have tried all means to talk to him, but he is so stubborn. Even the elders of the PAC like Prof Sipho Shabalala tried to engage him, but all in vain. He thinks he is bigger than anyone,” he said.
Dlamini further said the PAC distanced itself from the so-called GNU and Nyhontso’s participation in it under the name of the PAC as minister.
He said his organisation rejected what he described as the “sell-out” deal between the ANC and the DA, which was made after the general elections.
Speaking on Thursday, Nyhontso said the PAC was proudly participating in the GNU, and he had been allocated the Land Reform and Rural Development portfolio.
“We are happily participating, we are proud to have been doing this thing. We are grateful to the President for allocating this position to the PAC. The position talks to what PAC stands for and we are in the office for less than two months and we are working hard to make sure that land is distributed to our people,” added Nyhontso.
He further said the PAC was united, adding that the party would not respond to individuals.
“The decision to participate in the GNU is the decision of the national executive committee (NEC) of the PAC. We did that in consultation with all the provinces of the PAC.”
The Star
sipho.jack@inl.co.za
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