PAC grumbles over ‘snub’ of Makwetu
THE PAC is unhappy that President Jacob Zuma did not observe a moment of silence for the death of former PAC leader Clarence Makwetu before making his Nkandla statement on Friday night.
Makwetu died in a private hospital in Queenstown on Friday afternoon after a long illness.
He had been ill since 2009 and had recently become bedridden, according to party spokesman Kenneth Mokgatlhe.
Zuma conveyed his condolences yesterday in a statement, saying: “In Comrade Clarence Makwetu the nation has lost one of its true stalwarts and freedom fighters. We therefore wish to convey our deepest condolences to his family and his organisation‚ the PAC. May his soul rest in peace.”
In response, the PAC said: “We are unhappy at how the state responded to the passing of this freedom fighter. The Presidency released the statement about the loss of this giant, but Jacob Zuma was supposed to observe a moment of silence before apologising for violating the oath of office.”
Mokgatlhe said they would ensure that Makwetu, described as a fearless leader, received a state funeral as “a symbol of respect and honour for the role he accomplished”.
Even after the passing of its former president, the PAC vowed to ensure the release of all PAC and Azanian People’s Liberation Army freedom fighters.
The Presidency was not avail- LIBERATION GIANT: Former PAC leader Clarence Makwetu able for comment yesterday.
Makwetu, who was born in the Cofimvaba area in the Eastern Cape in 1928, was involved in politics for more than 40 years until he retired in 1996.
He became the first president of the Pan Africanist Movement in December 1989, the front organisation of the PAC until it was unbanned in January 1990, after which the PAM was dissolved and Makwetu became the deputy president of the PAC.
When its then leader, Zeph Mothopeng, died in October 1990, Makwetu was elected president of the PAC, a position he held until 1996 when he retired.
He spent seven years, from 1962 to 1969, as a prisoner on Robben Island.
He led the PAC in the first democratic elections in 1994 and was vocal in the National Assembly about issues such as land redistribution.
Former president Thabo Mbeki, in a 2004 profile on the Presidency’s website, described Makwetu’s role in the liberation of South Africa as “extraordinary” after he had been awarded the Order of Luthuli.