Madikizela-Mandela: Free education is impossible
While protests for free higher education have broken out at universities across South Africa, the mother of the country says free higher education has always been an impossible promise.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Mandela house in Soweto on Thursday, Madikizela-Mandela also said that ANC structures are currently debating the issue of a possible early elective conference, following the party's poor performance at the polls in August.
Madikizela-Mandela told the media that the ANC promised free education in the past due to a lack of experience in government.
"I think from a lack of experience we have done things in the past that were not really according to the freedom charter," she said.
She added that the governing party needs to go into "retreat" for a month and find answers about all the "wrongs" that they have done.
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"We cannot pretend that there are no wrongs. There is a lot wrong," she said.
She also said that there needs to be a fresh approach with new leaders in government.
"We need a whole layer of fresh leadership combined by guidance from the elders who are still left within the ANC," Madikizela-Mandela said.