Mandela defends Mbeki

2004-04-04 14:05

Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela has defended President Thabo Mbeki from people who he said wanted to cast aspersions on his integrity by saying that Mbeki would want a third term.

Mandela told a packed FNB Stadium: "We publicly express our surprise at such rumours concerning our faith in the integrity of a man we know better than any of those critics or rumour mongers."

It is the second time Mandela has come out in defence of Mbeki on this issue, raised by various people.

"Now that the president has answered in the most unequivocal terms, we have not heard any one of them apologising to the president, or to ourselves for that matter."

Mandela said no leader of South Africa could claim to have performed much better than Mbeki.

"Because the policies and the performance of the African National Congress government is so unfailable, all efforts were made to cast aspersions upon the president and his government," he said.

Before Mandela's address, Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha, South African Communist Party leader Blades Nzimande and South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco) leader Mlungisi Hlongwane called on the people to vote for the ANC on April 14.

- SAPA