Charles Molele
Former president Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday publicly endorsed the ANC in a move that is calculated to boost the party’s performance ahead of the crucial general elections on 8 May 2019.
Over the years, Mbeki has consistently refused to publicly endorse the governing party under the leadership of his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, within government and the party.
Mbeki was unceremoniously removed by Zuma and his cohorts in the ANC’s national executive committee in 2008.
In a surprise move, Mbeki, who always maintained his vote was a secret, signed a pledge on Tuesday to vote for the ANC, saying the party under President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed to root out corruption.
Mbeki was received by the ANC’s Gauteng head of elections Lebogang Maile, and Premier David Makhura.
The party’s head of national elections Fikile Mbalula also attended the event.
Asked why he reconsidered his stance about endorsing the ANC publicly, Mbeki said he was encouraged by the party’s admission of its previous mistakes and its commitment to rectify those.
“There is a section in the manifesto which says that the ANC has veered off course and has made many mistakes. It talks about the consequences of corruption and lawlessness and the loss of integrity. These are important observations. It was important for the ANC to say that. The language is very strong. When you veer off course you take that way instead of the right way. This is a very serious observation to make,” said Mbeki.
“You will recall that for many years we have had a different approach that we have a good story to tell while other people were very busy veering off course. Now why now? There was a period in all honesty where I couldn’t say to David, please vote for the ANC, knowing very well the wrong things that were happening. I am saying that the current elections manifesto of the ANC has those observations about the ANC. It imposes a challenge for the ANC to be accountable for the corruption and lawlessness in the party. It means we are making a commitment to the public. Therefore there is a degree of accountability to the public which the ANC cannot run away from.”
The former president also implored the governing party to swiftly act on the recommendations of the integrity commission to remove controversial figures from its list of public representatives ahead of the general elections.
“The veterans of the ANC were correct to say the following people should not be on the list. They were correct to say that. The whole list was given to the Integrity Commission of the ANC. The committee has looked at the list and expressed its views. Now those views will not remain a secret. If they say Thabo Mbeki is not fit and proper to be our representative in Parliament, it is a statement to the South African people. I think we need to wait for their report. I am saying from the point of view of the ANC leadership the matter is not closed. The Integrity Commission has to respond. This is consistent with what I have just said where the ANC said in its manifesto yes we veered off course,” said Mbeki.
Before the press briefing, Mbeki was taken on a tour of the ANC’s pavilion, which showed the party’s history, its achievements and milestones.
A jovial Mbeki took selfies with euphoric ANC supporters around the pavilion, and proudly displayed his ANC T-shirt.
When Makhura jokingly said he liked his T-shirt, Mbeki retorted:
“You are not going to have it.”
Mbeki was accompanied by a heavy Nigerian delegation led by former governor of Abia State and Senator-Elect Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and his wife, Ifunnayi Kalu.
