Riyaz Patel
ANC veteran and NEC member Tokyo Sexwale has described as “sloppy” the divergent views on Eskom as expressed by the deputy president, and the subsequent response by the Presidential spokesperson which contradicted David Mabuza’s views.
The politician turned businessman, speaking on SABC, was referring to the contradictory response by presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko after Mabuza said the power utility’s board had misled President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Diko responded that there was no “ill intention” on the part of the Eskom board when it told Ramaphosa that there would be no load shedding before January the 13th, adding there were “unforeseen circumstances” which resulted in renewed power cuts – despite the assurances from the Eskom board.
Sexwale says Ramaphosa should not have sent his spokesperson to respond to Mabuza’s claim.
He said Diko was doing good work but “sometimes you gotta be careful in the kind of things you allow your spokesperson to deal with.”
Sexwale continued: “People are justifies to ask ‘what the heck is happening.‘”
He added that “it’s important for government to speak with one voice when dealing with issues such as the crisis at Eskom.”
“The office of the deputy president is not a separate office in terms of the constitution and physically. It is located within the presidency.“
“We talk about the presidency. It’s occupied by both the deputy as well as his boss, the president. Leadership requires that where there’s any dichotomy, where there’s any issue, it should be properly resolved. There’s a place for this.”
Sexwale contends that it was irresponsible of Ramaphosa to use the term “sabotage” in the context of what was happening at Eskom, saying “you just don’t read everything that is put in front of you… because they will turn you into a puppet.”
“I have been in jail for sabotage, I know what it is. It is almost treason. It is not a word you can use flippantly… let alone by the president,” said Sexwale, adding, “I think it’s been sloppy to deal with things in that manner.”
Commenting on tensions in the Middle East between Iran and the US, Sexwale said the time has come for world leaders to use dialogue to resolve differences.
This after President Donald Trump ordered the US military to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani last Friday. Iran attacked Iraqi bases which houses American troops in retaliation.
Sexwale also questioned Trump’s leadership style.
“I think he’s got a bad style, badly advised. In the books of America I’m also a terrorist. You’ve got to be very rational and balanced as a leader especially if you are leading a country with military might such as the United States.
“We can’t go all over the place hopping and shooting, there’s a language that is used in terms of the resolution of international problems, conflict. It’s called dialogue.”
