FORMER politician Frank Chikane on Tuesday criticised corrupt elements in the governing ANC as “a cancer that will eat us up”.
Chikane’s latest book The Things That Could Not Be Said: A(ids) to Z(imbabwe), published in March this year, is a reflection of his time in government, including his period as director-general in Thabo Mbeki’s presidency.
Speaking at the Dispatch Dialogues Chikane said he was deeply concerned about corruption in South Africa.
“My concern is about the future of this country.
“That if we don’t watch carefully, the corrupt will govern us, and will corrupt all of us.
“And all of us will survive by becoming corrupt,” Chikane said, to the approval of the full house.
“If we don’t take a stand we will fall deeper and deeper into corruption, and we will lose our freedom.”
Chikane stressed that while much of his book sought to clarify the Aids and Zimbabwe crises, among others, there were many stories he couldn’t tell because the information was still classified.
“I can look at you and know that you are one hell of a criminal, but there is nothing I can do about it,” Chikane said in reference to information, apparently classified.
“Even if you get sworn into a more senior position, there is nothing I can do about it.”
While Chikane stressed that the book was his story, and not about popular perspectives or dominant views, he took sideswipes at the South African media for misrepresenting key stories under Mbeki’s leadership – as well as his own stance in relation to the ANC.
“I am not attacking the movement; I am talking about the people corrupting the liberation movement,” Chikane said.
Responding to Chikane was former Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhanya.
While Chikane described his book as a personal narrative of his experiences in government, Makhanya accused Chikane of “bordering on hero worship” in his description of Mbeki’s leadership as president.
Makhanya strongly criticised Chikane’s description of Mbeki’s role and the then presidency’s failure to intervene earlier in the Zimbabwe crisis.
“I found your characterisation of the fall of Zimbabwe to justify the actions of the presidency far too much,” Makhanya said.
Makhanya was editor of the Mail&Guardian newspaper at the time of the controversial 2002 Zimbabwean elections.
Makhanya said Chikane had “shied away from the culpability” of the Mbeki presidency for the “descent of Zimbabwe and its eventual collapse”.
Makhanya said the Zimbabwe crisis “developed and deepened” under Mbeki’s leadership, and that “the country was destroyed” by 2008, when the South African government facilitated negotiations for a power-sharing agreement between the ruling party Zanu-PF and opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Chikane responded that the focus in his book was on the negotiations, rather than the decline of Zimbabwe.
Chikane rebuffed much of Makhanya’s criticism by saying that if detractors disagreed, “they must write their own book and tell their story”.
Tuesday’s Dialogue, co-hosted by the University of Fort Hare and the Daily Dispatch, was held at the East London Guild Theatre.
It was chaired by Daily Dispatch editor Brendan Boyle. —
Chikane shrugs off ‘hero worship’ claim
Chikane’s latest book The Things That Could Not Be Said: A(ids) to Z(imbabwe), published in March this year, is a reflection of his time in government, including his period as director-general in Thabo Mbeki’s presidency.
Speaking at the Dispatch Dialogues Chikane said he was deeply concerned about corruption in South Africa.
“My concern is about the future of this country.
“That if we don’t watch carefully, the corrupt will govern us, and will corrupt all of us.
“And all of us will survive by becoming corrupt,” Chikane said, to the approval of the full house.
“If we don’t take a stand we will fall deeper and deeper into corruption, and we will lose our freedom.”
Chikane stressed that while much of his book sought to clarify the Aids and Zimbabwe crises, among others, there were many stories he couldn’t tell because the information was still classified.
“I can look at you and know that you are one hell of a criminal, but there is nothing I can do about it,” Chikane said in reference to information, apparently classified.
“Even if you get sworn into a more senior position, there is nothing I can do about it.”
While Chikane stressed that the book was his story, and not about popular perspectives or dominant views, he took sideswipes at the South African media for misrepresenting key stories under Mbeki’s leadership – as well as his own stance in relation to the ANC.
“I am not attacking the movement; I am talking about the people corrupting the liberation movement,” Chikane said.
Responding to Chikane was former Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhanya.
While Chikane described his book as a personal narrative of his experiences in government, Makhanya accused Chikane of “bordering on hero worship” in his description of Mbeki’s leadership as president.
Makhanya strongly criticised Chikane’s description of Mbeki’s role and the then presidency’s failure to intervene earlier in the Zimbabwe crisis.
“I found your characterisation of the fall of Zimbabwe to justify the actions of the presidency far too much,” Makhanya said.
Makhanya was editor of the Mail&Guardian newspaper at the time of the controversial 2002 Zimbabwean elections.
Makhanya said Chikane had “shied away from the culpability” of the Mbeki presidency for the “descent of Zimbabwe and its eventual collapse”.
Makhanya said the Zimbabwe crisis “developed and deepened” under Mbeki’s leadership, and that “the country was destroyed” by 2008, when the South African government facilitated negotiations for a power-sharing agreement between the ruling party Zanu-PF and opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Chikane responded that the focus in his book was on the negotiations, rather than the decline of Zimbabwe.
Chikane rebuffed much of Makhanya’s criticism by saying that if detractors disagreed, “they must write their own book and tell their story”.
Tuesday’s Dialogue, co-hosted by the University of Fort Hare and the Daily Dispatch, was held at the East London Guild Theatre.
It was chaired by Daily Dispatch editor Brendan Boyle. —
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