After years marked by internal divisions, the African National Congress’ uMkhonto weSizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV) have ushered in a new era with the election of a fresh leadership at their inaugural national conference in Bloemfontein.
National convenor Dan Hatto was elected unopposed as chairperson, alongside the rest of the executive. The new structure follows the disbandment of the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) in June 2021, a move aimed at ending persistent factionalism.
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The decision also sought to unite the former MKMVA with its rival body, the MK National Council (MKNC), bringing together veterans who once volunteered in the armed struggle against apartheid under a single veterans’ league, with welfare and wellbeing now positioned as key priorities.
ANC Veterans League Leadership Signals Unity After Years of Division
The formation of the MKLWV marks a significant step in consolidating veteran structures within the ANC. Party leaders have framed the new body as both a unifying force and a moral compass, expected to draw on its historical role in shaping the movement’s direction.
Addressing delegates, former president Thabo Mbeki challenged the new leadership to prove wrong what he described as predictions by “counter-revolutionaries” that the ANC would collapse within five years.
Mbeki further urged the MKLWV to play a decisive role in national security management, referencing the unrest of 2021. “You have a mayhem that happened in 2021. It was said that people were angry that the ANC had allowed the Constitutional Court to sentence Jacob Zuma and he was going to go to jail.
“That was a complete lie, it was the counter revolutionary testing its strength, to see if they can destabilize the country. It then acted, to cause that whole mayhem,” he says.
Mbeki and Mantashe Outline Expectations for MKLWV’s Role in the ANC
The former president reminded veterans of the original purpose behind the formation of uMkhonto weSizwe and their continued responsibility within the movement.
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“We took up arms we volunteer to join uMkhonto weSizwe in order to liberate this country. To make sure that defeat the apartheid regime and make sure in the end that defeat reconstructs South Africa on the basis on national democratic revolution. That another important thing is the nature of this organisation,” he adds.
ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe echoed the call for active involvement, urging MKLWV members to offer guidance and wisdom to the party. He described the veterans as the vanguard of the ANC, referring to them as the people’s army, and encouraged internal criticism rather than public disputes on social media.
“Let us be clear: the start of this conference is not the end. It is just the beginning of a new chapter where veterans must be visible. They must be vocal, organised and be influential in every structure of the ANC. Let me confirm one of the things that I enjoy, is much work.
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“I don’t come across many of you in townships and villages because some are angry, some are irritated and others think that something different should happen. Nothing is going to happen unless you are there. You are going to make things happen.
“You are going to be visible and you’re going to be vocal and you’ll say your thinking. Don’t whisper. Say it openly in an open meeting of the African National Congress,” he says.
The newly elected top seven leadership includes deputy chairperson Xolani Don, secretary-general Mcedisi Mthethwa, deputy secretary-general Mandilakhe Dilima, political commissar Thami Ntenteni, treasurer-general Thandi Mashwani and gender representative Tosca Tyibilika.
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