Niehaus out in the cold

As the fallout continues from Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus’ criticism of the ANC and former president Kgalema Motlanthe, his organisation is distancing itself from his remarks.

Although not a public statement, The Citizen has seen a letter dated July 6 sent by MKMVA acting secretary-general Moretlo Mophephe to ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, in which she said they “sincerely regret the misfortune on the matter”.

The letter said Niehaus had not represented the MKMVA, which was not even invited to attend Wednesday’s special imbizo on land, where he made the criticisms.

The imbizo was called by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini to discuss proposals to dissolve the Ingonyama Trust. He is the sole trustee of the trust.

Mophethe wrote that the MKMVA was fully behind the resolutions taken at the recent ANC elective congress in December.

On Friday, Niehaus attempted to convey that he had been misunderstood.

He blamed what he characterised as the confusion on the work of “white monopoly capital media” with an agenda against the ANC.

On Thursday, head of the ANC’s elections campaign, Fikile Mbalula told journalists Niehaus had been representing “his own jacket” when he apologised to Zwelithini and slammed Motlanthe’s parliamentary panel’s recommendations that the Ingonyama Trust Act should be repealed.

Motlanthe’s “attack on traditional leaders was entirely unjustified”, he maintained on Friday, including a description of them as “village tin-pot dictators”.

Niehaus’ statement said his apology for Motlanthe’s remarks were from him in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of the ANC.

He nevertheless called on the ANC to apologise to the king.

President Cyril Ramaphosa met Zwelithini on Friday night to reassure him that neither the ANC nor government wished to take the Ingonyama Trust land. – Citizen reporter