The Jacob Zuma-led celebration could have constructions much like these of the ANC and the Financial Freedom Fighters, however is not going to maintain conferences to elect new leaders. (Darren Stewart/Gallo Photographs)
The uMkhonto weSizwe celebration (MK) has formally adopted its first structure, a transfer that its leaders say will set up a agency code of conduct and unify the organisation.
The structure, efficient instantly, empowers celebration officers to take decisive motion on inner issues, nationwide chairperson Floyd Shivambu instructed a media briefing on Friday.
The celebration, led by former ANC president Jacob Zuma, was registered final September and launched in December and that is the primary try and codify its operations. It can have constructions much like these of the ANC and the Financial Freedom Fighters (EFF), however is not going to maintain elective conferences.
Shivambu stated the celebration’s highest decision-making physique accepted the structure throughout a latest nationwide excessive command assembly, setting the muse for its inner governance and disciplinary framework.
The structure outlines the celebration’s values, ideas, requirements and working procedures, together with a code of conduct for members aimed toward sustaining self-discipline and cohesion, Shivambu stated.
“The structure of the uMkhonto weSizwe celebration … instructs and empowers the nationwide officers to nominate a nationwide prosecutor, accountable for inner prosecutions on behalf of the organisation,” he stated.
The celebration has additionally launched an 11-member inner disciplinary committee accountable for holding members accountable for violations of the code of conduct. The committee, Shivambu stated, is a essential part of the MK celebration’s dedication to organisational self-discipline and inner stability.
In line with the structure, “there are particular situations the place a prolonged disciplinary course of is not going to be needed, equivalent to when members disrupt conferences or convey firearms to gatherings, threatening the safety of our organisation”.
It introduces a stringent probation interval for brand spanking new members, who will bear a 24-month analysis earlier than being totally accepted into the celebration.
Throughout this era, if any member is discovered to have grossly violated the code of conduct, the celebration’s high officers have the authority to terminate their membership instantly.
As soon as the probationary interval is over, the nationwide disciplinary committee will assume accountability for managing the self-discipline and conduct of non-probationary members.
Shivambu stated this stance on self-discipline displays the celebration’s efforts to safeguard its inner integrity, significantly because it welcomes an inflow of recent members, together with high-profile leaders, into its ranks.
It additionally comes after various MPs who had been recalled by the celebration to create space for brand spanking new leaders unsuccessfully took the MK management to court docket.
Shivambu additionally addressed what the celebration calls “parallel constructions” within the organisation, expressing concern over the existence of a number of management factions working at totally different ranges, that are stated to be undermining unity and order.
“There are a number of parallel constructions and management positions in any respect ranges of the organisation. Such will come to an absolute finish as soon as the management has been introduced in any respect ranges. We is not going to tolerate insubordination and can isolate components that search to destabilise our motion,” Shivambu stated.
In a nod to its rising affect, the MK celebration has seen an inflow of recent members, together with leaders from smaller events.
This has nevertheless not sat properly with some present members, whom Shivambu urged to “keep away from the pitfalls of gatekeeping and factionalism”.
Shivambu, who himself defected from the EFF to hitch MK, stated new members and leaders could be appointed to varied management roles throughout all ranges of the celebration and all constructions had been instructed to abide by choices taken by its greater constructions.