He had his own flaws, he committed mistakes – akhomntu ongenawo amaphutha, akekho umuntu ongathi yena u-clean (no is perfect, there is no one who can say they are clean). This was the human picture painted of former President Thabo Mbeki at
He had his own flaws, he committed mistakes – akhomntu ongenawo amaphutha, akekho umuntu ongathi yena u-clean (no is perfect, there is no one who can say they are clean). This was the human picture painted of former President Thabo Mbeki at
an event at the 1820 Settlers’ Monument on Tuesday to mark the return of the ANC’s Centenary Torch to the Makana area. Hundreds of ANC supporters listened as NEC member Malusi Gigaba, also Minister of Public Enterprises, spoke about a revival of the party in the sub-region and about the ANC’s 11th president. He was a profound ideologist, defended the ANC's outlook and was a fearless campaigner and able administrator. President Mbeki was at the centre, both in the movement as well as government, of providing thought leadership, said Gigaba. He said Mbeki understood that his international credentials would be meaningless if he did not single-mindedly pursue the cause of African solidarity… the very existence of peace in many African countries is owed to his leadership, Gigaba said. He had his own flaws, he committed mistakes, akhomntu ongenawo amaphutha, akekho umuntu ongathi yena u-clean, said Gigaba. They always complained of him being too much out of the country or being too much intelligent. You would hear people saying, 'the problem with Mbeki is that he is very intelligent'. He said those who challenging Mbeki's intelligence were challenging the intelligence of the previous ANC presidents up to Jacob Zuma. That means you are challenging the very intelligence of the black people in our country, saying to us we have no right to be smart, clever and intelligent. In actual fact you are equally challenging the intelligence of Joe Slovo and many white comrades who chose to support the common cause of our struggle.”
Earlier in the day, while receiving the Centenary Torch, Makana sub-regional chairperson Mncedisi Boma said the ANC in Makana needed to be revived.
After we come back from Mangaung we want to make sure that we have one voice in Makana. We want to intervene to the issues of poverty and unemployment and address social inequalities that exist, Boma said. Gigaba spoke of the legacy of the divisions that had started during the Scorpions investigations. Our challenge as the ANC is to reclaim the character of the ANC, restore its prestige. “It seems as if we have forgotten what the ANC is, why people joined the party, said Gigaba. He said members were only focused on their party positions and had forgotten what the people wanted. Siyadwanguza nje, ebunyameni (We are fumbling in the dark). The way we behave, we remember them when it is time for elections. ANC members must be united for the dignity, power and leadership of the party. We must make people believe in the future which we present to them. Many people are claiming that ANC has no leadership and needs change.
“I can perfectly understand why our opponents say this: What I cannot understand is why members of the ANC would join this chorus, Gigaba said, quoting from a recent speech by President Zuma: Nothing can be more inspiring than us working collectively to build our country.
