'Undisciplined public spats' damage ANC dignity: Phosa

Public fights between members of the ANC could cause a potential breakdown of the party's dignity, its treasurer Mathews Phosa says.

"I am disturbed by what I perceive as the potential breakdown of the dignity of our political discourse by undisciplined public spats," he said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation's annual conference in Johannesburg.

"Leaders do not serve the cause of shaping a better life for all by either openly or covertly seeking conflict by accentuating differences."

He said the ANC needed to be strong in their internal private debates, but protective of one another publicly.

"We won a historic battle which was lauded worldwide on strong values, unity of purpose and learning that a divided leadership creates fertile ground for a divided society," Phosa said.

"Nowadays our spears are better utilised in the fight against unemployment, crime, corruption and poverty rather than against leaders."

Numerous public fights have broken out between members as ANC branches, regions and provinces around the country discuss their nominations for the ANC's top leadership positions ahead of the party's national conference in Mangaung in December.

The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association's (MKMVA) Gauteng branches said on Tuesday that it wanted to replace Phosa as treasurer.

Ekurhuleni MKMVA secretary Bafana Mahlale said regions had decided that Phosa had erred by coming out in support of expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, despite the mandate that the national executive committee would accept the sanctions.

"We believe that the behaviour of Julius Malema couldn't be what it was unless it was backed by certain individuals in the national leadership. It is a known fact that comrade Phosa is one of those people," he said.