This
is an extract from The Hani Memorandum for which he and six others were
expelled by the ANC NEC in exile in 1969 (and almost executed) but later
reinstated. NUMSA
The
ANC in Exile is in a deep crisis as a result of which a rot has set in. From
informal discussions with the revolutionary members of M.K. we have inferred
that they have lost all confidence in the ANC leadership abroad. This they say
openly and in fact show it. Such a situation is very serious and in fact a
revolutionary movement has to sit down and analyse such a prevailing (sic)
state of affairs.
The
situation is further aggravated by the fact that accredited members of the
Organisation are no longer consulted or no longer participate in policy making
decisions of the Organisation – there have been two or three conferences when
the leaders met or did not consult or inform the membership of the resolutions.
The inference is that we are no longer considered members of the ANC.
As
the leading revolutionary core of the Organisation it is imperative for members
of M.K. to participate in all matters affecting the revolutionary struggle in
South Africa. We raise the above points so as to arrest the present trend.
We,
as genuine revolutionaries, are moved by the frightening depths reached by the
rot in the ANC and the disintegration of M.K. accompanying this rot and
manifesting itself in the following way: The ANC Leadership in Exile has
created machinery which has become an end in itself. It is completely divorced
from the situation in South Africa.
It
is not in a position to give an account of the functioning branches inside the
country. There has never been an attempt to send the Leadership inside since
the Rivonia Arrests. There has been an
overconcentration of people in offices – this has become a fully fledged
activity in itself.
We
are disturbed by the careerism of the ANC Leadership Abroad who have, in every
sense, become professional politicians rather than professional
revolutionaries. We have been forced to draw the conclusion that the payment of
salaries to people working in offices is very detrimental to the revolutionary
outlook is of those who receive such monies.
The
Leadership of the ANC abroad must be committed to a resolution and programme of
going home to lead the struggle there, which resolution and programme must be
seen to be implemented. Presently there is a Leadership vacuum as all the
leaders are either locked up in Vorster’s prisons of are in exile. This has
deprived the S.A. masses of leadership which is so vital at this crucial moment
of our Revolution.
There
are certain symptoms which are very disturbing and dispiriting to genuine
revolutionaries. These comprise the opening of mysterious business enterprises
which to our knowledge have never been discussed by the leadership of the
Organisation.
For
instance, in Lusaka a furniture industry is being run by the ANC.47 In
Livingstone a bone factory whose original purpose was to provide cover for
underground work in Botswana is now being used as a purely commercial
undertaking. As a result of these enterprises more and more M.K. men are being
diverted to them. And some of the people in charge of these enterprises are
dubious characters with shady political backgrounds.
We
are therefore compelled to conclude that there is no serious drive to return
home and carry on the struggle. An equally disturbing situation is that M.K. is
being run completely independently of the Political Organisation. The Political
Leadership Abroad is not aware of the activities and plans of M.K. We therefore
infer that M.K. is separate from the ANC; that there is conflict between the
ANC and M.K.; that the ANC has lost control over M.K.; that there is no
co-ordination between the ANC and the M.K.
All
this has brought about a situation where the ANC is run single-handed by the
Commander-in- Chief who appoints and dismisses arbitrarily – as a result there
is a tendency among members of the Headquarters to owe allegiance to the
individual who appoints and dismisses them and it takes a genuine revolutionary
to challenge him. We are compelled to blame the National Executive for this
anomalous situation.
The
Security Department is internally directed. It is doing nothing against the
enemy. It has achieved nothing of military importance. The failure of the
so-called Security Department has been shown by its inability to furnish the
Organisation with the fate of our most dedicated comrades in Zimbabwe.
Or
how is it possible that so many comrades have been able to desert so
successfully? In the prosecution of its internally directed activities the Security
Department has become notorious. Those who serve in it have the central task of
suppressing and persecuting dedicated cadres of M.K. who have nothing to lose
by participating in the struggle except their chains.
The
tragedy of the Zimbabwe campaigns is the fact that we have been unable to
analyse our operations so as to be able to assess and draw lessons that would
make it possible for us to formulate a correct strategy and tactics vis-à-vis
the enemy.
It
is a cause for serious concern that comrades who have come back from the battle
front have not been accorded a comradely reception and the fact that there has
been no re-appraisal of their combat experience. We are shocked by the criminal
neglect of our most dedicated comrades who have either fallen in battle,
sentenced to death or serving long term imprisonment in Zimbabwe.
We
are perturbed by the fact that certain members of M.K. are receiving payments
from the External Mission, e.g. the C-in-c and the C.P.O. who as a matter of
fact are getting allowances and the fact that the C-in-C has a posh and
militarily irrelevant car at his disposal. The fact that these soldiers are
paid has a very demoralising effect on the other revolutionaries.
Individual
leaders keep cars and run them and this coupled with the fact that they receive
salaries alias allowances is in every way building them up as a middle class in
our revolutionary organisation and in M.K.
A
strange and alarming trend is developing whereby secret trials and secret
executions have been carried out. We are not against the execution and
liquidation of traitors but we are against the veil of secrecy.
The
ANC is the vanguard of the revolutionary struggle in South Africa and it is
strange that its leaders have not been obliged to take the M.K. oath. We
strongly feel that there is no difference between the leaders of the ANC and
men of M.K. who are obliged to take the oath, for such an oath might have dealt
with J. Radebe’s63 desertion and will definitely deal with any other leader
harbouring right wing designs of sabotaging our revolution.
The
development of the Revolution has necessitated a renewal and rejuvenation of
those who are leading it. We must guard against the fossilization of the
leadership as this is likely to hinder the progressive development of the
Revolution. There has been a tendency to appoint people to the National
Executive outside. We would like to know what is the yardstick for these
appointments.
It
is very alarming that double standards as regards to health of the members of
the Organisation are maintained. Whenever leaders are sick arrangements are
made for them to receive excellent medical attention without delay but this
sort of concern is hardly shown to the rank and file of the movement. We
maintain that all of us are important in so far as the Revolution is concerned
and should thus be accorded the same treatment.
We
consider the youth in M.K. as the most revolutionary. We strongly feel that we
should be consulted on matters affecting the youth. For instance we must be
informed about the revolutionary International Youth gatherings and we should
be given priority in the sending of delegates. The farce of the Bulgaria ANC
Youth delegation should never be repeated and those responsible should
acknowledge the mistake they made.
The
Youth of South Africa is not located in London or in any European capital. We
therefore take particular exception to the appointment of certain students as
leaders of the ANC Youth. Thabo Mbeki who went to London on a scholarship
sponsored by NUSAS is a leader of ANC bogus Youth Organisation.
We
are convinced that the ANC leadership in Exile is according better treatment
and attention to the students. This attitude and practice has had a disastrous
effect of diverting many would-be revolutionaries into the academic field.
We
call for a full definition of the ANC-Z.A.P.U. alliance, its form and content.
We demand that a serious and genuine effort should be made towards the
intensification of ways and means of going home. This should be one actively
involving the most dedicated members of M.K. and it should be on the basis of a
correct strategy.
In
conclusion all these problems must be resolved by a conference between the ANC
Leadership and members of M.K. and not just handpicked individuals.
Signatories
M.T.
Hani (Chris), W. Hempe, Z.R. Mbengwa (Jeqe), Tamana Gobozi (Mikza), Leonard
Pitso,G. S. Mose (Mlenze), Ntabenkosi Fipaza (Mbali)
