South Africa's ruling African NationalCongress (ANC) has denied its opponents' accusations of purging oppositionsympathizers from government. This comes after the vice chancellor of theUniversity of South African (UNISA) came under fire to resign.
He is alleged tobe a sympathizer of the breakaway Congress of the People (COPE). The oppositiondescribed the move as an attempt by the ruling ANC to remove its suspectedparty members from the government. But the ANC dismissed the accusations,calling them farcical.
ANC youth league spokesman Floyd Shivambu told VOA thatthe ruling party wants due process to be followed.
"Ifthey say that it would be just ridiculous, they say that there is an ANCstrategy to try to purge people. It is just ridiculous. It is just nonsensical for anyone to everimagine that," Shivambu said.
Hesaid the accusation is unfounded and without merit.
"Thatis what COPE said, that is what they are imagining. It is their ownimagination. It is not a reflection of reality. There is no such action," hesaid.
Shivambusaid the ruling party is trying to push for the right things to be done in thecase of the controversy surrounding the vice chancellor of UNISA.
"Whatthe ANC government has said is that there are processes that have to befollowed if a vice chancellor of a university has to be removed. Council stillretains the right to take decisions on who should be removed," Shivambu said.
Meanwhile, President Zuma said Sunday that economicdevelopment and facilities should not be the sole preserve of previouslywhites-only suburbs.
The new president addressedhundreds of people at the official opening of a Pan African shopping centre inAlexandra Township. Zuma said the community needed to have all basic servicesthat he said are taken for granted in historically white areas.
Zuma singled out for upgrade in neglected communities such basic services as shoppingfacilities, proper roads, electricity, water and sanitation, quality schools,clinics, and affordable public transport.
Shivambu said the new president shouldkeep demonstrating the willingness of the ruling party to alleviate thesuffering of ordinary people.
"TheANC is an open organization, and President Zuma is practicalizing that he isgiving a practical meaning to a participatory open African National Congress,"Shivambu said.
Hesaid the ruling party is committed to average citizens and would keep itspromise.
"TheANC is a movement of the people, so every time the people should guide whateveraction, whatever program the ANC embarks on in government, and in whateverareas is leading," he said.
Shivambudismissed as outrageous opposition claims that the ANC has failed to keep itspromise of delivering top quality services to the people since 1994 when itassumed power.
"Thatis another urban legend that is being parroted by opposition parties. Obviouslywhenever they want to speak against the ANC they will portray a picture thatthere has never been service delivery," Shivambu said.
Hesaid the ruling party's recent handsome win in the election is a show ofconfidence the people repose in the party.
"Thepeople of South Africa have affirmed the African National Congress as leader ofthe society as leader of government with an overwhelming majority. So really,it doesn't make sense to say people are angry with the ANC," he said.
The leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, HelenZille who is also the new premier of Western Cape, is accusing the ANC ofapproving the transfer of more than 1,000 hectares of prime provincialhousing land to the ANC government the day before the April 22 elections thatwere won by the ruling party.
But Shivambu dismissed Zille's accusationas sour grapes.
"HelenZille is a sick person, who is generally sick. We really do not take anythingshe says very seriously," Shivambu said.