Former Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, continues to draw warm applause when he's addressing memorial services for late ANC stalwart, Ahmed Kathrda.
Gordhan was the headline attraction at the second memorial service for Kathrada in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon, following a similar event in Johannesburg last night.
Young and old came together at St. George's Cathedral for the memorial.
An announcement from SA Communist Party deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin that the SACP fully supports calls for President Jacob Zuma to step down, received a warm reception at the memorial service.
Cronin, who was speaking in a packed St. George’s Cathedral, also called for the immediate implementation of the recommendation by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela for a judicial commission of inquiry into all dealings between public entities and companies owned by Zuma’s friends, the Gupta family.
“We call for the revoking of citizenship and revoking of residential rights of Guptas,” said Cronin.
“We call for lifestyle audits for all ministers, all deputy ministers and for board members of state-owned companies.”
Cronin says the SACP would stand its ground when it meets with the ruling African National Congress top six – by expressing their disappointment at recent events, which include a cabinet reshuffle, followed by a downgrade to junk status by a rating agency.
A prominent student leader said at the memorial that she was done with ANC
Young people no longer want to be “used” by the ruling African National Congress, fiery FeesMustFall leader Fashiha Hassan said at the memorial service.
Hassan compared the leaders of the ruling party to Ahmed Kathrada whom she said joined protests for free education, and instead of scolding her, he would listen.
This, she said, was sorely missing in the current ANC movement.
“We are indeed at an epoch as this country. The bitter truth of the matter is that we failed our people long time ago. We became a left-talking but right-walking ruling party,” she said to loud cheers and shouts of “yes” from memorial attendees.
She said the ANC had become a party of “nepotism” and corruption, and that young people would not allow themselves to be used during factional battles within in the ruling party.
Pravin Gordhan, whom was fired as finance minister last week, was due to address the memorial.
– African News Agency (ANA)
