ANC stems ma Winnie debate
THE ANC has moved to block some of its senior leaders from setting the record straight as the wrangles over the legacy of late Struggle icon maWinnie Madikizela-Mandela threaten to spiral out of control.
Earlier yesterday, ANC veteran and former safety and security minister Sydney Mufamadi defended himself against allegations that he was part of a plot to neutralise and politically weaken Madikizela-Mandela.
Some leaders of the ANC Women’s League who resigned from the the organisation when Madikizela-Mandela was president issued a statement saying they also wanted to set the record straight.
This is after EFF leader Julius Malema accused them of “selling out” Madikizela-Mandela when they resigned from the league’s national executive committee.
Last night, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said the country was still mourning.
“Firstly, let me state categorically that the ANC does not believe that those allegations are true because the historical time factor is what was wrong in the first place. In brief, there was acrimony within the women’s league and it was felt by these women that it was best for them to resign to allow the league to continue its work.”
She said Madikizela-Mandela had received a final farewell filled with dignity and love.
“It is not appropriate that only 48 hours after she was laid to rest that our organisation participates in controversial debates regarding her life and her legacy. We know that in some instances this debate is intended to detract from the significant role that she played in the liberation Struggle and in the ANC.
“Accordingly, the ANC is discussing ways in which we will further honour her contribution and her life. We will also at the right time address allegations that seek to cast aspersions on individual members of our movement and the role played by the apartheid security agents in fostering divisions within the ANC, but we say that this is not the time,” Duarte said.
She appealed to party members “not to be provoked at this sad time”.
ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula said the members of the ANC whose names were circulated on social media had approached the party. They included Nomvula Mokonyane and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
“The organisation so advised that it is not advisable at this period, while we are still mourning, to be speaking individually about all sorts of accusations that will be made and aspersions on individuals,” Mbalula said.
Mufamadi accused French filmmaker Piscal Lamche of depending on former apartheid operatives and excluding the ANC in her latest documentary on Madikizela-Mandela.
Former Murder and Robbery Squad head Henk Heslinga claims in the documentary that Mufamadi used his position as both an ANC NEC member and minister to demand the reopening of the investigation into Madikizela-Mandela in a bid to secure her conviction, including for the killing of teenager and alleged informant Stompie Seipei.
Other members belonging to the counter-insurgency outfit of the Security Branch, Stratcom, also claimed to have worked with journalists to discredit Madikizela-Mandela, including Stratcom director Vic McPherson and Paul Erasmus.
Mufamadi dismissed the documentary as being similar to what Stratcom was peddling, as it disregarded those who knew Madikizela-Mandela better and opted to depend on apartheid operatives
“Why does this documentary feel that it is enough to have McPherson, Erasmus and Heslinga telling the people of South Africa the story of the life and times of maWinnie Madikizela-Mandela and the perspective against me, against who they make these chilling revelations?”
He denied allegations that he called for the reinvestigation of Madikizela-Mandela by then police commissioner George Fivaz, adding that it was former DA leader Tony Leon who made the request.
“And yes, I knew about it because commissioner Fivaz could not do an investigation of that kind without telling his minister,” Mufamadi said.
DA veteran Douglas Gibson responded on behalf of Leon, who is mourning the death of his father.
“Tony Leon was doing his job, and any allegation that he was behind the persecution of maWinnie Madikizela-Mandela is a lie,” Gibson said.