I was targeted because of Winnie, says Dali Mpofu
KNOWN for his record of winning high-profile cases, senior counsel and member of the Judicial Services Commission advocate Dali Mpofu has opened up to The Insight Factor, a YouTube channel that hosts politicians and influential people.
His interview, scheduled to be aired on Sunday at 6pm, has been sent ahead of time exclusively to The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News.
In the interview, Mpofu does not mince his words, saying there has been a serious propaganda campaign intended to mislead people.
“This is evident in the manner the Stratcom (Strategic Communications) and some journalists have carried themselves.”
Speaking on working closely with the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
and being targeted by Stratcom and the apartheid regime, Mpofu contended it came as no surprise that he and those around Madikizela-Mandela were targeted because she was too radical and, as a result, became the greatest threat to the apartheid government.
“Having worked with somebody like Comrade Winne Mandela, all of us, Peter Mokaba and myself, knew we were opening ourselves for major attacks because she was openly, by far, enemy No 1 to the apartheid regime.
“She was the only person who could openly walk out under those conditions and shout ‘Viva ANC’ when the ANC was banned and still go home without any fear. It was understandable that the apartheid regime would target her and those around her, so we decided not to react to that,” Mpofu said.
Asked about his tenure as former chief executive at the SABC, he smiled, saying he remains the longest-serving post-apartheid chief executive at SABC and that his success speaks for itself.
“I was chief executive for about four years. The reason why other people don’t last that long is because the SABC is a hot seat.
“The last time the SABC produced three successive positive results in its performance was when I was there. Employees at the SABC would even receive big bonuses. We put together a strategy which we called broadcasting for people empowerment.”
On the widely publicised heated exchange with Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan at the state capture commission, where Mpofu cross-examined him on behalf of former Sars Commissioner Tom Moyane, Mpofu said the exchange came as no surprise.
Mpofu felt the current administration was to blame for the challenges South Africa was now facing. He accused the government of hiding behind rating agencies when people were starving.
Mpofu, describing how South Africa was now captured by what he referred to as “neo-liberals”, said it was treasonous how some leaders were conducting themselves – enriching themselves at the expense of many South Africans.