Snl24 | Ex-member: ANC, stay away from my songs!

Former ANC member Gamelihle Mbuyane dancing alongside Jacob Zuma.

THE African National Congress (ANC) continues to bleed as members resign from the party ahead of its big celebration at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Saturday, 13 January. 

This week was supposed to be a week where the governing party celebrates its 112-year milestones, but instead, it has found itself putting out fires, from rumours of its President Cyril Ramaphosa falling sick to its secretary-general Fikile Mbalula making statements that have a potential to cost the party more votes.

On Wednesday, 10 January, one member resigned from the ANC.

Gamelihle Mbuyane didn’t just resign, but he also demanded that all the songs that he wrote for the party not be used anymore, including the Asinavalo and unity Maqabane Phakama Ramaphosa.

In a letter seen by the Daily Sun dated 10 January 2024, directed to the Mpumalanga chairman Mandla Ndlovu, Mpumalanga secretary Muzi Chriwa and the party’s secretary-general at Luthuli House, reads: “It gives me great pleasure to have been a member of the ANC and even greater pride to have adequately supported with my voice. However, I Gamelihle Mbuyane membership no 5818425041, hereby notify you that I’m resigning as a member of the ANC with immediate effect.”

He further stated that his reasons would be forwarded at a later stage if needed.

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Mbuyane also said that after careful evaluation of the Copy Rights Act 1978, he is entitled to all the revolutionary songs sung by his voice.

“I hereby notify you to cease using the struggle songs with my voice to campaign and the other three songs which were composed by me, Asinavalo, Asiwafuni Amagawala and Unity Maqabane. I appeal to the party to discontinue playing all the songs, with my voice or written by me with immediate effect,” he said.

“Failing to do so will be an infringement of the Copyright Act, and it will be within my constitutional right to take legal action against such.”

He said that he wished the party well in all its political endeavours.

Whether the ANC will comply with Mbuyane’s songs request is still unknown at this stage.