If he wants to join the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) “or become a sympathiser” he is welcome‚ but Gwede Mantashe’s self-appointment as the “spokesman of the party” is not.
The actual spokesperson‚ Kenneth Mokgatlhe‚ said on Thursday that the PAC is “disappointed at the ‘Father Christmas of ANC’ Mantashe for behaving like our political advisor”.
This came after Mantashe‚ the African National Congress’ secretary-general‚ had on Tuesday said it would have been better if the PAC was stronger in the political arena than the Democratic Alliance (DA) due to its policies.
“Things would be better if it was someone from the left who argues with you than the DA‚” he said‚ after addressing the family of late liberation struggle hero and former PAC president‚ Clarence Mlamli Makwetu‚ in Gwatyu Farms in Cofimvaba.
Mokgatlhe took issue with this meeting‚ noting that while it is “African that…people come and send their condolences”‚ Mantashe “should not brag about visiting the family” and remember that he is only “as important as other people who visited (the) Makwetu family”.
The 88-year-old Makwetu‚ who also spent time in Robben Island as a political prisoner with the likes of Nelson Mandela‚ died on April 1 in a Queenstown hospital following a long illness. He had retired from active politics in 1996.
Mokgatlhe also attacked Mantashe’s call on PAC members to ensure they safeguard their party’s glorious liberation history from becoming extinct‚ in which he said: “As the ANC‚ we talk about our past leaders and the PAC should talk about its leaders and not just one president . That can help revive the PAC.”
Mokgatlhe countered: “It is nonsensical of Mantashe to claim that we don’t talk about our leaders.
“When they go to Sharpeville on the 21st of March to ‘celebrate’‚ the PAC with sadness and tears goes to cemetery of victims of Sharpeville/Langa Massacre to commemorate and not to party.
“In this event‚ we don’t remember one leader but all 69 people whom the government have forgotten.”
Mokgatlhe said Mantashe’s interference wasn’t new‚ as the “ANC always resort to focus in the PAC internal politics whenever they are facing conundrums”.
He cited the example of former Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordaan‚ who had written an “article about the PAC in 1998 when they were in crisis‚ entitled ‘Is the PAC a viable alternative’ ”.
Mokgatlhe said the PAC has no “interest in being the opposition party but it’s the media and ignorant Mantashe who refer to us as such”.
“The PAC‚ in its inception‚ outlined that it was going to serve as a vehicle for African change‚ this indeed symbolises our unique ideological navigation‚ which Mantashe knows very well‚” he said.
“Mantashe is the organisational head of the ANC‚ and his job is to unite the ANC…stop meddling in our organisation. If he wants to join or become a sympathiser he is welcome.” – Tiso Black Star Group Digital/Daily Dispatch
PAC to Mantashe: Stop meddling in our organisation
The actual spokesperson‚ Kenneth Mokgatlhe‚ said on Thursday that the PAC is “disappointed at the ‘Father Christmas of ANC’ Mantashe for behaving like our political advisor”.
This came after Mantashe‚ the African National Congress’ secretary-general‚ had on Tuesday said it would have been better if the PAC was stronger in the political arena than the Democratic Alliance (DA) due to its policies.
“Things would be better if it was someone from the left who argues with you than the DA‚” he said‚ after addressing the family of late liberation struggle hero and former PAC president‚ Clarence Mlamli Makwetu‚ in Gwatyu Farms in Cofimvaba.
Mokgatlhe took issue with this meeting‚ noting that while it is “African that…people come and send their condolences”‚ Mantashe “should not brag about visiting the family” and remember that he is only “as important as other people who visited (the) Makwetu family”.
The 88-year-old Makwetu‚ who also spent time in Robben Island as a political prisoner with the likes of Nelson Mandela‚ died on April 1 in a Queenstown hospital following a long illness. He had retired from active politics in 1996.
Mokgatlhe also attacked Mantashe’s call on PAC members to ensure they safeguard their party’s glorious liberation history from becoming extinct‚ in which he said: “As the ANC‚ we talk about our past leaders and the PAC should talk about its leaders and not just one president . That can help revive the PAC.”
Mokgatlhe countered: “It is nonsensical of Mantashe to claim that we don’t talk about our leaders.
“When they go to Sharpeville on the 21st of March to ‘celebrate’‚ the PAC with sadness and tears goes to cemetery of victims of Sharpeville/Langa Massacre to commemorate and not to party.
“In this event‚ we don’t remember one leader but all 69 people whom the government have forgotten.”
Mokgatlhe said Mantashe’s interference wasn’t new‚ as the “ANC always resort to focus in the PAC internal politics whenever they are facing conundrums”.
He cited the example of former Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordaan‚ who had written an “article about the PAC in 1998 when they were in crisis‚ entitled ‘Is the PAC a viable alternative’ ”.
Mokgatlhe said the PAC has no “interest in being the opposition party but it’s the media and ignorant Mantashe who refer to us as such”.
“The PAC‚ in its inception‚ outlined that it was going to serve as a vehicle for African change‚ this indeed symbolises our unique ideological navigation‚ which Mantashe knows very well‚” he said.
“Mantashe is the organisational head of the ANC‚ and his job is to unite the ANC…stop meddling in our organisation. If he wants to join or become a sympathiser he is welcome.” – Tiso Black Star Group Digital/Daily Dispatch
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