The grandson of struggle icon Nelson Mandela‚ Mandla Mandela‚ has rebuffed a challenge for a debate with EFF leader Julius Malema‚ saying the only debate presently worth having would be over what brand of soap would best wash out Malema’s mouth.
He added that if Malema wanted a debate on Nelson Mandela’s legacy he should apologise for his poor behaviour‚ read books‚ improve his arguments and stop destroying confidence in the country.
He had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize‚ the Ghandi Peace Prize‚ the Sakharov Prize‚ the Presidential Medal of Freedom‚ the Lenin Peace Prize‚ the WEB DuBois International Medal‚ made an honorary citizen of dozens of the world’s major cities from Rome to Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro‚ and received honorary degrees from the most prestigious universities across the world.
“Malema says all of these countries‚ and all of the members of all of the committees responsible for awarding all the honours‚ were wrong‚ while he is right.
“Besides disrespecting an elder‚ who is revered across the country and the planet‚ and palpably failing to grasp the reality of negotiation processes‚ he trashes the reputation of our country in the eyes of the world.
“As if that is going to help stimulate growth in our economy‚ and jobs and dignity for our people.
“This‚ after a year in which he has done his best to destroy the integrity of our democratically elected parliament‚ the highest manifestation of the clause‚ The People Shall Govern‚ contained in the very Freedom Charter he pretends to champion‚” said Mandela.
“He insults me by questioning my integrity‚ when my work with the Mvezo Traditional Council is a matter of public record.
“If he read the newspapers he would know that since my inauguration as Chief of Mvezo in 2007‚ our elected‚ 42-person leadership collective has presided over the building of a pre-school‚ primary school‚ high school and a Science and Technology Centre of Excellence in the area.
“What has he built‚ besides a crumbling homestead in Nkandla and a collapsed bridge?” questioned Mandela.
Mandla hits back at Juju
He added that if Malema wanted a debate on Nelson Mandela’s legacy he should apologise for his poor behaviour‚ read books‚ improve his arguments and stop destroying confidence in the country.
He had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize‚ the Ghandi Peace Prize‚ the Sakharov Prize‚ the Presidential Medal of Freedom‚ the Lenin Peace Prize‚ the WEB DuBois International Medal‚ made an honorary citizen of dozens of the world’s major cities from Rome to Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro‚ and received honorary degrees from the most prestigious universities across the world.
“Malema says all of these countries‚ and all of the members of all of the committees responsible for awarding all the honours‚ were wrong‚ while he is right.
“Besides disrespecting an elder‚ who is revered across the country and the planet‚ and palpably failing to grasp the reality of negotiation processes‚ he trashes the reputation of our country in the eyes of the world.
“As if that is going to help stimulate growth in our economy‚ and jobs and dignity for our people.
“This‚ after a year in which he has done his best to destroy the integrity of our democratically elected parliament‚ the highest manifestation of the clause‚ The People Shall Govern‚ contained in the very Freedom Charter he pretends to champion‚” said Mandela.
“He insults me by questioning my integrity‚ when my work with the Mvezo Traditional Council is a matter of public record.
“If he read the newspapers he would know that since my inauguration as Chief of Mvezo in 2007‚ our elected‚ 42-person leadership collective has presided over the building of a pre-school‚ primary school‚ high school and a Science and Technology Centre of Excellence in the area.
“What has he built‚ besides a crumbling homestead in Nkandla and a collapsed bridge?” questioned Mandela.
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