While the African National Congress (ANC) considers taking disciplinary action against one of its former leaders, Tony Yengeni, the man in question seems unperturbed, enjoying a leisurely time at the beach. On Tuesday, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula announced that the party would be charging Yengeni for his controversial social media comments. Speaking at a press briefing in anticipation of the ANC’s upcoming 113th birthday celebrations in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, Mbalula did not mince words when describing Yengeni’s recent actions. He referred to Yengeni as “a political Casanova” and accused him of promoting political views supported by a small group of individuals opposed to the ANC.
Mbalula confirmed that disciplinary charges would be brought against Yengeni and that he had already informed him via SMS, as well as personally calling him. “He will be charged. We will bring him before the disciplinary processes of the ANC so that he explains himself in terms of his membership with the ANC,” Mbalula stated, indicating the seriousness with which the party views Yengeni’s conduct. However, Yengeni appeared unfazed by the looming charges, posting a video on social media from the beach at Clifton, Cape Town, where he captioned the footage, “Stunning weather at the 4th beach yesterday.”
The controversy surrounding Yengeni began when he posted a tweet questioning the size of the field to be used for the ANC’s upcoming anniversary event. His tweet, which asked, “What is the capacity of this field?” sparked a strong reaction within the party. Yengeni’s critics within the ANC believe his comments are undermining the party’s image and leadership, particularly as he has also shared his views on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership online. His social media activity has raised concerns within the party about his loyalty and his role in internal dissent.
Yengeni’s troubles with the ANC extend beyond his social media posts. His actions regarding former ANC president Jacob Zuma have also caused friction. Yengeni, who represented Zuma before the ANC’s disciplinary committee after the former president publicly endorsed a rival political party, found himself further alienated from the ANC leadership. This endorsement of another party ahead of the May 29 elections was seen as a direct challenge to the party’s unity and its leadership under Ramaphosa.
Mbalula also announced that another ANC member, Obed Bapela, would face disciplinary action. Bapela’s troubles stemmed from an alleged misrepresentation of both himself and the ANC during a trip to Morocco, which ultimately led to his removal from his position in the ANC’s international relations sub-committee. This series of disciplinary actions underscores the growing tensions within the party as it seeks to maintain unity and discipline among its members, particularly in the lead-up to key political events.
As the ANC grapples with these internal disputes, the actions of figures like Yengeni and Bapela reflect broader challenges the party faces in maintaining its coherence and addressing dissenting voices from within its ranks. While Yengeni enjoys his time at the beach, the party is left to contend with the consequences of his public statements and his defiance of party leadership.
