ANOTHER ANC DEFECTION TO COPE IN KWAZULU NATAL

UNCLAS DURBAN 000012

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SF
SUBJECT: ANOTHER ANC DEFECTION TO COPE IN KWAZULU NATAL

REF: DURBAN 9


1. (SBU) Summary: Another senior African National Congress
member in KwaZulu Natal announced his defection to the Congress
of the People. Siyanda Mhlongo -- until yesterday the head of
policy for the ANC in KwaZulu Natal and former Mayor of
KwaDukuza -- announced his resignation from the ANC, citing
"high levels of corruption" and "moral decay" in the party as
his main motivation. The move was not surprising: Mhlongo is a
known Thabo Mbeki supporter and has been an outspoken critic of
current ANC leadership. End summary.

Announcement at Packed News Conference


2. (U) Mr. Siyanda Mhlongo, head of policy for the ANC in KZN,
announced his resignation from the ANC and move to COPE at a
well-attended press conference in Durban on January 22, 2009.
Mhlongo cited "high levels of corruption" and "moral decay" in
the ANC as the main reasons for his decision, but noted that the
ANC's determination to help Jacob Zuma "dodge his day in court"
also was a factor. Mhlongo said that Zuma must "answer many
questions" either in court or in public.


3. (U) Mhlongo told the press conference, "there is no permanent
marriage in politics and sentiments are secondary to
principles." He said that he "had a conversation with his moral
conscience" and decided that he could no longer identify with
the ANC. Mhlongo added that he was targeted by senior leaders
of the ANC in KZN because he spoke out against corruption. As a
result, he was persecuted by the ANC, through disciplinary
actions and a brief expulsion from the party, he alleged.


4. (U) Mhlongo also revealed that the ANC this week recalled
Sduduzo Gumede, the Mayor of his hometown, KwaDukuza--because
the ANC suspected Gumede of being a member of COPE. Mhlongo
defended the mayor, saying he was hard-working and a
"corruption-buster" in a municipality that suffered from
mismanagement and financial irregularities under its previous
municipal manager. He claimed that the mayor's sacking was
further evidence of ANC resolve to "purge all those who are
fighting corruption" and who supported Mbeki at the Polokwane
ANC conference.


5. (U) Mlungisi Hlongwane, COPE's National Head of Elections,
and Lucky Gabela, Provincial Chairperson of COPE in KZN (Reftel)
welcomed Mhlongo's defection to COPE. Mr. Gabela announced that
Mr. Mhlongo will be the new spokesperson for COPE in KZN.

ANC Unconcerned


6. (SBU) ANC Provincial Spokesperson Nomfundo Mcetshwa told
Pol-Econ Assistant that the ANC is not surprised by Mhlongo's
resignation and his departure is not a cause for concern. The
party had suspected him of working underground on behalf of
COPE, she explained. She also revealed that Mhlongo was
expected to face a disciplinary hearing January 23, 2009 for
"absconding from work" for several months without a valid
reason.


7. (SBU) Comment. Despite the ANC's posture, Mhlongo's
resignation from the ANC to join COPE was an embarrassment,
given that KZN province is considered the most united behind
Zuma. Although Mr. Mhlongo was an outspoken and experienced
member of the ANC, he was disliked by many ANC members because
of his support for Mbeki at Polokwane (his local branch of the
ANC was the only one in KZN to support Mbeki over Zuma) and his
continued public criticism of ANC leadership for not addressing
corruption. For these reasons, and as the ANC noted, his
defection comes as no great surprise. It will be interesting to
see whether he will be able to bring other senior members of ANC
in the province over to COPE's side.

DERDERIAN