FREE DAILY EMAIL

News reports of ANC leader Thabo Mbeki's jocular remarks in Rustenburg yesterday that he would "beat" his sister if she supported the African Christian Democratic Party's leader Kenneth Meshoe, among "other silly parties" sparked a flurry of angry statements by opposition politicians and the ANC itself.

An initial South African Press Association report conveyed that Mbeki, speaking in the vernacular to a crowd of hundreds in the streets of Thlabane township, said that if ever his sister was to arrive home and tell him that she was "in love" with ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe, he would have to "beat her".

The ANC supporters reportedly laughed with delight at the quip.

ANC North West spokesperson Elliott Mayisela was quick to point out that Mbeki had been bantering with the crowd.

"He was speaking in the vernacular, jokingly with the crowd, and his intention was absolutely not to be denigrating of women or people's political choices".

"He was joking," Mayisela emphasised.

Mbeki also told the crowd not to vote for "silly parties", like the New National Party, the Democratic Alliance or the ACDP.

Responding to initial reports, the ACDP's national spokesperson, Rev Selby Khumalo, said that once again, Mbeki was showing all South Africans that he was desperate.

"If he considers other political parties to be silly, why is he worried about them? "Mbeki's statement about Rev Meshoe will anger his supporters, who are witnessing moral decay in this country by the ANC's immoral laws".

Mbeki should remember that the ANC was in power because of the Christian vote, Khumalo said.

DA national chairperson Joe Seremane said Mbeki should urgently clarify or categorically apologise for the "shocking" comments.

"The president should act as a guardian of human rights. To insult and undermine women on a day set aside to celebrate human rights must mark as one of the lowest points of his term in office.

"The harsh reality of South Africa today is that millions of South African women have been beaten and abused.

"In making his threat - be it seriously or in jest – the president has made it clear that he has no regard for the rights of women," Seremane said.

In a further statement ANC national spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama took issue with the Sapa news report, describing it as "inaccurate and malicious".

Ngonyama claimed the report attributed remarks which the president had never made.

"In addition to attributing to President Mbeki statements, which he did not make, the (Sapa) report ignored the central message of Mbeki's address to residents of Tlhabane township. In his address to the community he said, 'I will vote for the ANC on 14 April', which was greeted by an enthusiastic response from the residents".

Sapa editor Mark van der Velden said the news agency stood by the main point of its story.

"It's correct that we did not make it sufficiently clear at first that the ANC leader was in a jocular mode, but we have confirmed with other journalists at the scene that he did make the remarks". – Sapa.

SPONSORED BY

Advanced