Manuel: All is not well in the ANC
Former finance minister Trevor Manuel says the unveiling of struggle hero Ahmed Kathrada's remembrance site should once again remind us about the struggle of others.
Manuel was speaking at Westpark cemetery in Johannesburg on Sunday, where friends, family and ANC stalwarts gathered to recall uncle Kathy’s values of selfnessness and anti-racism.
Manuel says the current ANC has a huge hill to climb to embody the kind of leadership qualities Kathrada had.
However, the former minister insisted that ordinary people can take a stand in advancing Uncle Kathy's values by fighting for what's right and standing up to impunity at a time when the ruling party is experiencing a serious leadership crisis.
ANC stalwart Mvuso Msimang said it's unfortunate that until his passing Kathrada had to wrestle with oppression, even within his own organisation.
''It is a sad commentary on the state of our organisation that uncle Kathy found himself forced to lock horns with its leadership and its elective leaders,” Msimang said.
Manuel noted that the significance of Kathrada's unveiling of the remembrance site comes on the day of the United Democratic Front's anniversary; a day before Kathrada's birthday; the 40th anniversary of Steve Biko's death as well as on the final week of the Ahmed Timol inquest.