‘ANC must beg Mbeki to campaign’
‘Party must beg former president to join campaign’
THE ANC in Gauteng must humble itself before former president Thabo Mbeki if it wants to win the upcoming elections.
This is according to ANC stalwart and former minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC’s Mandela Day celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Pahad said Mbeki was a priceless asset at the disposal of the ANC and that it was unfortunate that the ANC was not using him.
“The present leadership of the ANC should take the time and engage with the former president.
“They must do everything possible to get to him and engage him so that all of us can continue to make the contribution to strengthen the unity of the ANC,” Pahad said.
The ruling party is facing its toughest electoral contest since the dawn of democracy and Gauteng has been lobbying ANC veterans, including former president Kgalema Motlanthe, to campaign for the party.
Mbeki has, however, not actively campaigned for the party since his recall in 2008.
Pahad said Mbeki was not only important for winning votes of some sectors of the population, but that the ANC could use him.
“He has a remarkable depth of knowledge and not only of this country, but of the world.”
Yesterday, ANC Gauteng leader Paul Mashatile said his office had written to Mbeki to ask that he campaign for the party. “I’ve not spoken to him personally, but my office has written to his office.
“The response is that he is still busy, so in the coming weeks you must watch the space.”
While Pahad has been critical of the party, including how Mbeki was removed, in the new book on the former statesman, The Thabo
Mbeki I know, he said: “The ANC moulded and produced us. What is really important is to keep on encouraging the present leadership of the ANC to get involved in selfcriticism and self-correcting measures to deal with the challenges and problems.”
Pahad said some of the problems faced by the ANC were “large”, but that it was not the only organisation with challenges.
Meanwhile, ANC veteran Ahmed Kathrada said: “Madiba was very strong on discipline and sacrifice. I can just speculate, but wherever there was an absence of discipline, he would be very concerned.”
Mbeki’s spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga was asked for comment, but had not responded at the time of going to print.