Mbeki ‘was right about Zuma’

ANC veteran Sindiso Mfenyana says events in the ANC leadership have proven that former president Thabo Mbeki was correct when he said Jacob Zuma was not the right person to lead the party and the country.

But he said Mbeki was wrong to unilaterally fire Zuma without consulting the people.

“He knew certain things about Zuma, which made him feel that (Zuma was not suitable to be president).”

He said Zuma’s deficiencies as a leader had damaged the ANC’s reputation.

“The ANC was respected because people knew that the leaders were good parents and upstanding members of society,” said Mfenyana.

He also aimed some harsh words at fellow party veterans. He said it was a serious mistake for them to have boycotted the ANC’s national policy conference.

Mfenyana, 77, said it would have been better for the veterans “to come here to put their case, rather than just stay away”.

Mfenyana was a close ally of former ANC presidents Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.

“To tell you the truth, the veterans made a mistake by not being here. If the leadership offers us this opportunity, lets us meet during this occasion, I would expect them to react in a positive way because the leadership of the ANC always listens,” he said.

Mfenyana launched his book yesterday on his role in the Struggle, titled