Former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu has officially resigned from the African National Congress (ANC), according to a report from SABC.
Mchunu, who previously held the position of MEC for Transport, Community Safety, and Liaison, communicated his decision in a letter to the secretary of the Ward 33 branch in eThekwini. In his correspondence, he expressed that he no longer feels he can contribute positively to the ANC given its current political direction.
He further stated that he has faced backlash for voicing his opinions on the establishment of a Government of National Unity (GNU) following the historic elections on May 29, where the ANC garnered less than 50% of the vote for the first time since 1994. Mchunu added that he has lost faith in the ANC’s commitment to advancing the National Democratic Revolution in favor of the working class and the impoverished.
In 2019, Mchunu raised concerns when he collapsed during the KwaZulu-Natal State of the Province address, which was abruptly cut short.
Mchunu Critiques Attacks on Pravin Gordhan
In his last public appearance, the 76-year-old criticized those he claimed were undermining the reputation of the late struggle stalwart and former Member of Parliament, Pravin Gordhan.
Mchunu stated, “The ANC has the duty and responsibility to be at the forefront of defending the image of comrade PG. Those attacking PG are selectively highlighting certain aspects and ignoring his struggle credentials. There is a concerning silence regarding his contributions to various successful governance programs, while they choose to attack what I consider to be the current direction of the ANC in government.”