Bring it on, JJ Tabane tells Trevor Manuel
Former minister threatens legal action
MEDIA personality Dr JJ Tabane is not budging on his utterances and claims made against Trevor Manuel and other current and former leaders of the ANC whom he has accused of having had a hand in the formation of the Congress of the People (Cope).
This comes after the former minister had written to Tabane asking him to “unreservedly withdraw the false, wrongful and unlawful statements” that have sought to put him at the centre of the formation of Cope.
Tabane, known for his penchant for “speaking truth to power”, told this newspaper that he stood by his utterances which he made on a podcast The Hustlers Corner by DJ Sbu on YouTube over three weeks ago.
“Dear Trevor. I received your letter of May 9. I was interviewed on The Hustlers Corner and was asked a question relating to the formation of Cope. I responded to this question and nothing in my answer was defamatory, contrary to what you allege.
“I therefore stand by that answer and have no intention of withdrawing it or making any apologies as demanded by you. If you choose to take any legal action, I will defend it vigorously. Yours in truthly,” Tabane signed off his response to Manuel.
Manuel said he was giving Tabane until the end of business yesterday to comply with the demand, failing which he would be forced to commence with proceedings against Tabane.
At the centre of tensions between Manuel and Tabane are allegations that Manuel an other current and former leaders of the ANC such as former finance minister Tito Mboweni, current Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and former president Thabo Mbeki were instrumental in helping to form Cope following the ANC elective conference of 2007, which resulted in the recalling of Mbeki from office.
Cope spokesperson Denis Bloem said he had seen the letter from Manuel, but declined to comment on the issues it raised. In the letter seen by The Star, Manuel says he is “compelled” to address Tabane in relation to the statements he had made during the interview more than three weeks ago.
“During the aforementioned interview you boldly claimed that I and several others played a role in the formation of Cope. After mentioning me, you said they can deny all they want, and he (in reference to me) can be as angry as he wants. “Well, I am not angry, but I am outraged at the falsehoods you spread. Your statement is simply not true. You peddled this false narrative in the full knowledge of its falseness by virtue of, at least, your apparent involvement in the formation of Cope at the time,” Manuel said.
The former minister, who has since retired from politics, said at the time of the formation of the party he was an active member of the ANC national executive committee (NEC) and thus could not have been part of Cope’s formation due to his loyalty to the governing party.
“At the time of the founding of Cope, I was a member of the NEC of the ANC. Your accusation that I was involved in the formation of Cope while an NEC member of the ANC impugns my integrity,” Manuel stated.
He said such utterances by Tabane, who holds a prominent role in the eyes of the public due to his standing as a media personality, was detrimental to his reputation and standing in society.
“From my perspective, you have accused me of duplicitous conduct. This incorrect perception, unless immediately retracted and corrected, can and will take hold in the minds of the public at large, thereby undermining my standing in the broader South African community.” Manuel called on Tabane to ensure that his apology was published prominently in print and other media by the close of business yesterday.