Issued by: Office of the Deputy President T.M. Mbeki
STATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS REGARDING PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AND DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI ON THE TRC
Suggestions that President Nelson Mandela and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki had differences of opinion regarding the approach to the TRC report as alleged in the Weekend Star today, 31 October are nothing but thunder and lightning signifying nothing.
Firstly, at no point did Deputy President Mbeki in his capacity as President of the ANC interact with President Nelson Mandela on the intention of the ANC to interdict the TRC. Any suggestion to the contrary is a complete fabrication.
The Deputy President wishes to put it on record that it was ANC Secretary-General Kgalema Motlanthe who briefed President Nelson Mandela, as a matter of courtesy, of the intention of the ANC to interdict the TRC to ensure its views are heard before the finalisation of the report.
In this regard, President Nelson Mandela was not expected to and did not express an opinion on the intentions of the ANC to interdict the TRC. The suggestion therefore that President Nelson Mandela and Deputy President Mbeki had differences of opinion on this approach is devoid of all truths.
Secondly, Deputy President Mbeki further wishes to state that it has always been the intention of his organisation, the ANC and other political parties to protect President Nelson Mandela from interacting with the TRC process from a party political platform.
Thirdly, in his interaction with National Council of Provinces (NCOP), chairperson Terror Lekota, the Deputy President was informed by Mr. Lekota that he (Lekota) has never apologised to the TRC for the ANC's interdict but had rather requested his office, as NCOP Chairperson, to express an appreciation to the TRC on the completion of its work.
Finally, Deputy President Mbeki says no member of his organisation, the ANC, can ever concur with the scurrilous attempts to criminalise the liberation struggle, by characterising the heroic struggles of the people of South Africa which brought about the dawn of peace, democracy and justice, as gross human rights violations.
For more infor contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
ISSUED BY OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT T.M. MBEKI COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION P/BAG X955 PRETORIA 0001 31 October 1998.