ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has for the first time praised former president Thabo Mbeki as a hero of the ANC, whose struggle credentials can never be erased from the history of the ANC.
Malema in the past has been very critical of Mbeki, even accusing him of leading a political conspiracy against President Jacob Zuma. But on October 30 he sang a different tune, even likening Mbeki to ANC stalwarts such as former president Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Albert Luthuli.
Malema even referred to Mbeki as “president Mbeki” when he addressed young physically challenged people in Mthatha, according to the Dispatch Online.
In this we have finally seen a quantum leap forward in relations between what was once the fractured house of the ANC which occasioned untold billions of rands worth of damage and can best be described as the catalyst from which much of the bitterness and hatred — which still lingers — arose.
In no particular order, the Mbeki-Zuma divide directly or indirectly gave rise to the following :
The war between the police and the Scorpions
The demise of the Scorpions
The Hlophe fiasco
The Selebi trial
The recalling of a president
Massive party bitterness and violence
It did have one positive in the birth of Cope which adds to the multiracial democracy of South Africa. Whether Cope will survive this healing process is something we’ll have to wait and see.
A major positive is that one of South Africa’s leading political figures can now be restored to the place of prominence he deserves.
While I accept that Mbeki had his faults, so too do all leaders, including our greatest Madiba.
The opportunity has now arisen for the ANC to start putting this nasty episode behind them.
In the interest of all South Africans let us hope that it’s grasped with both hands.
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54 Responses to “Malema’s praise for Mbeki offers a vital bridge”
Seems to me that you’re trying to build a bridge to Malema after demonizing him for so long. I wonder why the sudden change of tune?
btw. You do Madiba a disservice by trying to compare Mbeki to him.
In priciple if a person says nasty things and then some time later changes his tune WITHOUT a public apology then surely one cannot respect nor trust that individual.
Mbeki’s struggle credentials can be erased from history just as easily as Mugabe’s. (or Winnie Mandela’s and Stompie.)
By the way, as a lawyer, what do you think of Mbeki’s deal in Darfur for his African Slave Masters enslaving, raping and slaughtering Black African Peasants?
Considering in the rest of the World people want an independent, unbiased judge free from political interference in their court cases, meanwhile Mbeki is suggesting the imposition of biased judges by political appointment to shadow others, in order to make sure that one of the accused parties (The Khartoum Govt) is actually involved in deciding their own cases.
Or is trying to turn back two thousand years of legal precedent to deny justice to African Peasants your idea of an African Solution and progress?
And “unerasable” struggle credentials.
By the way, in one more of Mbeki’s window dressing ballsups to keep dictators in power and bypass democracy for the African Peoples in a “Unity” Govt in the Ivory Coast there is evidence they are gearing up for war and using Mbeki’s window dressing as cover for re-armament for an even more vicious and deadly civil war this time:
Mbeki never leaved to the expectations.I do no understand Malema elevating Mbeki any more that the vilifification he got from the ANC. Read his statement well.Nothing is refuted.The alleged involvement in the formation of COPE, meetings and leaks from COPE structures were never refuted.So they stay. Zuma we expected nothing. We will see.
What are we doing? on November 1st, 2009 at 8:50 am
In a matter of a week or two we’ve had Jacob Zuma endorsing Malema as a future leader, Malema apparently preaching reconciliation at UOFS and Malema is now the guy to repair the divisions in the ANC (and therefore every public institution in SA).
Doesn’t this smell just a little bit like an orchestrated political campaign?
Point #1
Dont you dare compare Madiba nor write him in the same sentence with Mbeki. The two are totally different, one is arrogant and thinks he knows it all while the other is an inclusive & reconciliatory leader.
Point #2
Shikota is still mbeki’s brainchild. Daila Lama so to speak. We’ll also never erase the fact that Mbazima & Smuts spent countless hours in mbeki’s house before jumping the ship. We’ll also never forget the letter Mbeki wrote to the president of the ANC; for crying out loud this is the man who arrogantly defied to do anything positive for his own organisation, he didnt want to see the ANC winning in the previous elections–because he was no longer its president.
Point #3
Yes, we are agree he and his ilk (the Ngcukas and Selebis) caused all the misery in the country. They distroyed everything that had a “justice” tag on it.
Or maybe Malema is finally mastering the art of his mentor. Gauge your audience and tell them what they want to hear. The audience had more to do with this than Malema’s sincerity.
Let’s not read too much into what Malema says. It’s not like he thinks it through beforehand. He’s a noisy little boy, and it amazes me that the media take him so seriously. Are we really that intellectually shallow?
Mbeki made one ‘mistake’ that overshadows all else, good or bad. He called the white racist’s bluff. The ‘What? Me! A racist?’ will never forgive him for showing that when they point to Africa as being a basket case they are facing their own finger. Same goes with respect to Amerindia, South America, India, Aboriginal Australia, Central Asia, India, China, Crimea, Imperialist Japan and Hiroshima-Nagasaki, Korea, Vietnam,Cambodia et al and now to cap it all the same blithe spirits are responsible for Afghanistan, Iraq, Global Warming—I am running out of breath just typing these words for the weight of the disasters the west is responsible for and blames others for.
For the rest of us the more these malicious and duplicitous misfits deny Mbeki’s validity the more they expose their racism and the validity of Mbeki. By the same token the more they praise such as Mandela and Gandhi the more clear it is that they are in denial yet feel a desperate need to absolve their guilt. Those men need the praise of the west like they need a hole in the head. Both men essentially treated the westerner as a dangerously defective ethical entity.
In short a large and probably major section of the western mind is fundamentally discredited. This section can of course read the history. They must get the picture by looking into their own amply foolish image If not they must jump of the edge, the sooner the better.
Silly palookas.
The ANCYL ‘s utterly moronic view of life is summed up in an interview with Secretary General, Vuyiswa Tulelo carried in the November 30th edition of the Mail & Guardian (pg 3) relating to nationalising the mines.
In reply to a question from Matuma Letsoalo, stating that most state owned enterprise have performed dismally “why does the ANCYL believe the state would be able to run the mines properly”
“if you give people performance contracts, they will be forced to do better” says our moron.
Geez if only this bright spark had been around earlier she could have saved the 20th century’s disastrous experiments with communism throughout Russia eastern Europe and parts of Asia, Africa and South America.
Performance contracts……………..Man Stalin, Brezhnev, and co must be kicking themselves. Quick Fidel, Performance Contracts will save the revolution.
I think we may be in deeper trouble than we think and our slide to idiocy gaining momentum.
I guess this is the ANCYL formal view?
He reminds me of what Robin Williams said about politicians: Politics: “Poli” a Latin word meaning “many”; and “tics” meaning “bloodsucking creatures”
And then there is the latest email doing the rounds - a letter to the Grim Reaper:
Dear Grim Reaper,
So far this year you have taken away my favourite dancer Michael Jackson, my favourite actor Patrick Swayze and my favourite singer Stephen Gately.
Just so you know, my favourite politician is Julius Malema.
I suppose we have to give Malema a cookie every time he does things we don’t expect of him. Right ? Tomorrow he’ll call Helen Zille a patriot and we’ll all gasp in shock and wonderment. As if we need Malema to state something, so that we can say “Even Julius Malema says it.”, so you know there must be some (tru…yuck, I can’t even type it) to it.
All I can say about this is that indeed the Malema Reality Show is created and cultivated by the media. This revisited appraisal of Mbeki is not newsworthy at all, nor does it signify an important shift in anything, let alone what’s brewing within the ANC.
One of these days somebody will publish a scan of Malema’s brain waves in his sleep and the media will be fawning over it. The sooner we let go of fascination with Malema’s random pronouncements the better.
Kholekile Tshunungwa on November 1st, 2009 at 4:31 pm
What is Malema trying to do, I would say trying to win the voters over just like Zuma. Says things at the right time to the right people. I for one do not believe Malema can be sincere. He has now got a swollen head because Zuma said he can be a leader for this nation. Bl..dy sly fox.
Wow Traps you must be one naive individual. I think that Malema, contrary to what people think, is no fool. He has used inflammatory statements to becoming entrenched in the headlines and gain popular support, to the point that Zuma has endorsed him as a future ANC leader. He now is seeking to heal the only threat to his rule, the rift within the ANC, so that these pigs that rule us can carry on feeding from the trough for aons, staying in the Hilton, luxury vehicles, lucrative tenders. Man that gravy train is a beautiful thing when there is some unity of purpose and a lack of dissent!
Who cares about the poverty, unemployment and desperate daily lives of your average south african. Who care about the farm murders, our spiralling crime rate or disentegrating public sectors, our increasingly flawed judiciary or dropping agricultural production, as long as its all right for me Jack! If shit really goes down the toilet, hey I can always sell milk to Nestle!
Can’t remember the song , but I think is was CSN&Y the same boys who gave us “teach your children” in the 70’s , who wote and sang these words ;
“he had a different story , for every set of eyes” ,
“you’re only real with your make up on” ,
“you’re all just pi$$ing in the wind” .
Somehow I am sure one of the punters out there , can remind us who the subject of the song was - couldn’t have been the Jelly Tsotsi - he was not even born or even thought about in the 70’s
Willem Wikkelspies on November 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Neil Young - on the beach sang …found it ..
And there ain’t nothin’ like a friend Who can tell you you’re just pi$$in’ in the wind. I never knew a man could tell so many lies He had a different story for every set of eyes How can he remember who he’s talking to? Cause I know it ain’t me, and hope it isn’t you.
Willem Wikkelspies on November 1st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
This kind of statement is exactly what an authoritarian government makes. You never know where you stand with such a government as every statement is populist. This means that you cannot conduct business or your life because the rules change every day. Be afraid, this new ANC will burn this country still! But let the denialists deny!
Why do white people hate Mbeki so much? Alisdair Budd why are you still in Africa you hate africans with a passion ever since the Thought leader started you have had a lot to say about africans and most of it borders on racsim, dont mind you hating africans but pelase try and be objective, you know nothing about the war in Sudan except waht CNN tells you so i would say get bith sides of a story before sharing you opinion.
“The ANCYL ‘s utterly moronic view of life is summed up in an interview with Secretary General, Vuyiswa Tulelo carried in the November 30th edition of the Mail & Guardian (pg 3)”
“NOVEMBER 30th”, SAYS THE LOUDEST MORON IN THE HOUSE (with his imaginery calender)!
Malema is a noise-maker. I don’t understand why the press reports on him all the time. Nobody takes him seriously except those with no education, like himself and Zuma.
Siphiwo Siphiwo
Youn don’t fail to amaze me, you seems to carry so much disdain, hatred and utter disgust for the former President, it even borders on being personal and I wonder where you a victim of his leadership in any way?
Alisdair Budd is one of those western apologists who perpertualy try to identify (read fabricate)anything negative about African leadership and in this case former President Thabo Mbeki is a victim of his over-zealous anger with Africans for having liberated themselves from th yoke of colonialism and apartheid hatred.
Whatever reasons Julius had of being a latter day praise singer of President Mbeki is neither here nor there. The admission that his struggle credentials can never be erased remaisn a not only truthful point of departure but the sad reality that faces all those who hate the poor African Child represented through Thabo Mbeki.
Siphiwo - “don’t you dare…” - you don’t believe in the parts of our Constitution that speak to freedom of expression? You don’t believe in freedom of thought?
Midafo - you hit the nail right on the head - I couldn’t have said it better - except I shall add that the Cabinet’s approach to AIDS was a disaster and had a devastating effect on too many lives which is very sad. I would rather have Mbeki and several others from the previous cabinet any day in place of the Zuma and the current leadership - just my opinion.
Malema has never said Thabo Mbeki is not a product of the ANC struggle.We didn’t agree with him to the Jacob Zuma’s saga and his style of leadership compromised him dearly.Cde Mbeki must be seen in action not anly in words by being active in organizational matters.His absence to branch activities increases the suspicion about being COPE MASTER.
I spent my time listening to Malema talking in Mthatha over the weekend. I was also there when he praised Mbeki. To me the praise didn’t come as a shock because what Malema was saying is true. The tiff that existed within ANC didn’t erase Mbeki’s role in the struggle from Malema’s mind.
So I would like to call on some of the readers to stop hating Malema so much that they criticise everything that he says.
To me Malema is a great leader, and I’m very proud that he existed during my time. Listen to his speeches with a clear mind you will see what Zuma sees on him. I wish that he continue with his style of leadership until he becomes the president of the ANC and country. Viva Malema, Viva ANC
I get your point. That is why us Africans have come to a point where we have decided to let the racists carry on with their misinformation. We know Dingaan was a hero but where is his story? Same applies to Mbeki. Do not worry Midafo we know who our heroes are
if ppl would bother looking into the history of the ANC and thabo’s specifically 1 would realise that theres alot that Thabo has done,alot of sacrifices for the ANC. so yes i think he deserves being put in the ’same sentence’ as Madiba, Madiba whether we want to admit or not, had his own mistakes bt because of his name those were overlooked. its such a pity that Julius is the 1 who had to point out that fact that Thabo is in fact a ANC hero and of the country as a whole!
It would have been foolhardy of Malema to insult Mbeki in his own turf!
The guy (Malema) is stupid but he seems to have been briefed well. One of his comrades made the mistake of disrespecting Mbeki in Mthatha and the ANC lost credibility with the Kings.
The ANC is pulling wool over our eyes. Same as in the Reitz saga, Malema must first apologize then sing Mbeki’s praises. Right now all I see is widnow dressing a serious issue that is slowly leading to the demise of the ANC as we know it.
It seems the young Malema has done a lot of growing up. For Malema to be seen as a future leader, he will have to start talking, and acting like one. Maybe now he is realising that his verbal attacks only serve to paint a bad picture of him.
As a person from Ivory Coast, I have great respect fro Mbeki. What he did expose the brutality and exploitation of Ivory people by the French. His plans led to peace in our country, which French do not want to see. Mbeki is a great reconciliator and freed us from the oppression and violence by French people.
I read somewhere that there is a battallion named after Mbeki in Ivory Coast is it true? Do not worry African compatriot truth will out. Gone are the days when we had to be told by others who our heroes are. Our history will be written by us
Mduduzi, I want to refer you to an interview with former President Thabo Mbeki that featured in the Sunday Independent on 1st November 2009. If you are able to get your hands on a copy and read the article you will understand his silence this past year.
ANC should bury the factions that they were and start building the united ANC.this will not only help the party to grow but also to show South Africa and abroad that the party appreciates and acknowledges the stalwarts who contributed to the welfare of this land.Mbeki’s struggles and sacrifices benefits our children.His contribution as the head of the state has put the country in a better place.He was not acting in his capacity but was manadated by ANC policies.His personal relations with various individuals outbitten his sccesses.therefore we need to look at the countrys achievements, including, economy during the past 15 years.It is the duty of the ANC, opposition and NGO’s to monitor and evaluate all the state’s programmes.To do this, is to identify the gaps, challenges that emanated rom the implementation of the programmes
When the dust has settled, we will revisit the Thabo Mbeki era with much fondness.
We have heard of HIV/AIDS,Zimbambwe etc Not that anyone is doing anything differently, save for saying soem soothing things, at least with HIV/AIDS.As for Zimbambwe, they don’t know where to start, after so much noise in the sidelines.Zuma goes and visits a farmers market!
Funny how where things have gone wrong it Thabo Mbeki, when they have gone right it the ANC,Madiba and Zuma.Whilst its been Thabo and the ANC all along, yes even in the baby kissing, rugby loving Madiba era.
Mmm, Traps did this piece appear in ANC Today - its naive enough to have. Seriously, Malema seems to be on the way up - currying favour with Thabo - covering his bases in both camps, bringing the ANC back together now that the elctions are over and the Zuma camp dont need a bad guy anymore. Its just politics SA/ANC style. Nothing to writ and article about really. And lets hear it for the forgotten African heroes instead of worrying about the Western racists. Who wants to start?
By the way Michael - I hate the new “captcha” words - I can’t read the flippen things! Half the time I get the word wrong and lose everything I have said - so annoying! Whoever thought this new design up?
The comments above made me sad. The only reason anyone will look back on the Mbeki regime with any fondness is because standards have slipped even further since then. As a person I am sure Thabo is a decent man, and intelligent. However I believe him also to have been miguided and arrogant, leading to thousands of south africans dying of AIDS, which could have been prevented if it wasnt for his woeful attempt to cloud the issue.
He also presided over Zimbabwes demise, never daring to say a word against Mugabe, which has resulted in over a million illegal imigrants, exacerbating our unemployment and crime problem, as well as losing touch with the common man in South Africa to such an extent that his own party booted him out, and replaced him with woefully unqualified fools who seem to not have the necessary expertise to fix the numerous problems we face.
Mbeki may have been a hero before 1994, but he was not much of a president, and not worthy to fill Mandelas shoes, although to be fair, not many people could.
Chris - you can’t judge a presidency on one or two selected criterea - there are so many aspects to a presidency - and as our ANC government continually inform us - it is a collective decision. He did far more that was good than what was bad and the government under Mbeki functioned far better than the apartheid government who only cared for around four million of the forty two million people living in the country. It was a big jump for a “raw” “new” “inexperienced” government - having the same resources but having to share them with millions more people. Mistakes were made (for me Zim was not one of them) but all things considered, we should be on our knees giving thanks for how well it has gone.
What did Madela do? Are you African? regardless of which racial group you are from do you consider yourself African? If your answer is in the affirmative then you will understand why Mbeki ’s popularity is rising again and will even be more pronounced in future
Chris how did Mbeki preside over the demise of Zimbabwe last time i checked it was Mugaber abd Zanu Pf. Lets be pratical a lot of pople said what they wanted to say about Mugabe and it did not change anything just made newspapers sell more copies thats all.
It is quite amazing how Mr Mbeki has been deemed a fallen hero, when in actual fact this world has never had leaders who have been pure saints except’ Jesus Christ.All great men have flaws,some conceal them better than others.Indeed one cannot compare Thabo Mbeki to Tata N R Mandela because they different and that difference is what makes one more ‘unique’.One thing is crystalline clear The Prince achieved far more than many leaders to date.He managed to be adored and despised by many,made friends and gained enemies.Like a “Caesar” HE was ambitious and ascended to the highest and most powerful office in the land,and managed South Africa’s transcendence to an “African Power house”.Thabo Mbeki “The Prince Of Africa” is the man he was destined to Be!, like many before him he fulfilled a part of his destiny and purpose.Whoever We Are,None of us can derail or erase that part of history.Even if years pass He will forever remain a part of Our Countries memory, who we are,and what we came to Be.Personally He Became what many wish to Be and very few can ever Be! HE WAS&IS MY HERO,and A LEGEND FLAWED BUT NOT TRAGIC!.HE IS AND FOREVER WILL BE THABO MBEKI “THE RENAISSANCE MAN”.Te fact is that Some of us appreciate his existence and understand that none of us are perfect.
MI 'ELZORRO DORADO on November 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
100% Clay - Mbeki came in for so much criticism over the so called “quiet diplomacy” (what other kind is there?) - but what progress did all the “loud diplomacy!!!” bring about in Zimbabwe - Mugabe doesn’t give a hoot about what anyone thinks or says about him. The only one able to move Mugabe to bring about any changes or make any concessions was Mbeki. As the quote goes “one and one always makes two - same criteria - same result” Since “loud diplomacy??” was having no positive effect whatsoever, why would Mbeki adopt the same approach and expect a different result. I often wonder what good it would serve if a mediator working with a couple having problems in their marriage were to go public with negative rhetoric about one half of the couple. Would the publically castigated half rush back to the same mediator. I don’t think so! It’s easy to judge but Mbeki was walking tight rope and working to avoid civil war at all costs and none of us really knows what was going on behind closed doors – and it certainly wasn’t Mbeki’s place to rush to the media and let us know – had he done so Mugabe would have stopped him at the airport and shipped him straight back to RSA – no problem!
I hope Mbeki reads this blogg - nice for him to read some constructive, positive comments for a change.
And Michael - thanks for removing the captcha! So much less stress without it!!
Yes I am African. And I will stick to my guns on my criticisms of Mbeki. Yes, social welfare was extended under his rule, and yes his financial policies were good, he had his good side no question.
However as far as I am concerned his quiet diplomacy was a disgrace and has as stated above led to a huge immigrant problem, xenophobic violence, adversely affecting crime and employment.
As for his stance on AIDS, embarassing would be an understatement, not to mention the personal tragedies involved for the thousands of people who died under a Minister of Health he appointed, Dr Beetroot. Nuff said.
I have a high level of expectation for people who purport to lead, and as far as I am concerned Thabo Mbeki failed on the three primary problems he faced - Crime, AIDS, and Zim. I really do think we only look back with fondness and respect because the current crop are so woeful.
As far as I am concerned, and this is no small thing in tyrant dominated africa, Mbekis greatest moment was the dignity he retained in stepping down, demonstrating his belief in the values of democracy. I respect him a lot for that.
Chris - it is not Mbeki’s “quiet diplomacy” - I prefer “diplomacy” since there is no other type - that caused the problems of which you speak. The primary reason right now is of course Mugabe himself - but it is far more complex than him alone! Mbeki was a mediator assisting in bringing two “warring” factions together to work together to resolve major issues in Zim without it going to civil war. Taking your logic further, it is like saying that if the newspapers report on corruption or genocide, they are the cause of it because they never stopped it. Or that a mediator in a potential divorce is the cause of the divorce because he wasn’t able to bring about reconciliation via his mediation. The cause of the divorce is a complex set of issues that finally led to the complete breakdown of the relationship - the mediator is not the cause. - I just don’t see the logic in blaming Mbeki because the people of Zim have left there and come to RSA – Probably no one left SA for Zim giving as their reason that Mbeki was our president. Of course people have left to go elsewhere but I doubt very that any, would give as their reason for leaving President Mbeki.
Chris you have an uncanny way of looking at issues however it is your right to convince yourself that it was Mbeki’s fault for Mugabe to be a dictaor. Now Mbeki is gone what have leaders of SADC done if according to you Mbeki was the architect of Mugabe’s dictatorship. On the question of AIDS South Africa please note, during Mbeki’s era was credited for having the most comprehensive AIDS plan and its implementation. What did he do to cause the deaths? by participating in the intellectual debate despite putting measures in place to reign in the spread of the desease? I find this pronouncement by Canada et al to be the most stupid and illinformed. Why are Americans and their exploitative cartels not giving ARVs to their people yet they are selling them to us? Wake up you seem to be snoozing
You have to be joking! The problem is that your focus is so off base - the real concern is whether the institutions of our democracy function in such a manner to promote and sustain democracy and to alleviate poverty. These institutions are formal political institutions where our representatives are held accountable and through which the business of the country takes place. To focus on who gets on with who and whether this is good or bad for the ANC is a sham for political democracy!
i think for us to be able to conetruct beter nd productive debates would be if we try nd nt be subjective on the maters raised..for as long we some of you stil have personal wounds and discontent at the new or old Anc/coutry leadership it would realy be almost impossible to give ginuine,sober and unbiased comments..i will reserver my own comments but want to appeal to all of us to try and assist the situation one way or the other,calling people fools,dictators,uneducated,small boys etc will not bring about change into the lives off our downthroden poverished and helpless people in and around our country..cults of personality will not assist..lets deal with issues at hand and not the persons…i respect my current and former leaders and believe that no one can be perfect but to say how do we then as a nation try and assist our leaders where we see they lacking intead of labeling….We can do it!!
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Seems to me that you’re trying to build a bridge to Malema after demonizing him for so long. I wonder why the sudden change of tune?
btw. You do Madiba a disservice by trying to compare Mbeki to him.
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