Sexwale not a candidate - yet
2007-06-08 08:07
Johannesburg - Businessman Tokyo Sexwale said on Thursday he was not a candidate for ANC president as nominations were not yet open, but he had been approached to stand.
"Lobbying is taking place but the candidates have not yet been identified," said Sexwale.
He would not say whether he would accept nomination and would not comment on what he would do if he became president.
Sexwale was addressing a packed Great Hall at Wits University in Johannesburg.
"The last time we saw Wits Great Hall so packed was during President (Thabo) Mbeki's Nelson Mandela lecture a year ago," said political commentator Moeloetsi Mbeki when introducing Sexwale to the enthusiastic audience.
Sexwale said the succession debate and party elections in December were overshadowing the ANC's policy debates and its policy conference later this month.
Not just a superstar...
"The ANC is not only going to elect a superstar... it will also elect an entire leadership."
Joking about people outside who were singing Umshini wami, the song associated with ANC deputy president and likely presidential candidate Jacob Zuma, Sexwale said to laughter from his audience: "I want to see Jacob Zuma. That's not his song he is claiming, that is our song."
Sexwale said leaders needed courage but not bravado.
"It is when courage fails us that convictions never see the light of day," he said.
"To be brave is one thing, but bravado is one thing that can lead to failure."
He said President Thabo Mbeki had shown "great personal courage" to challenge international perceptions of Africa - "that is where his legacy is".
Sexwale said leadership was not about hiding behind slogans and saying "the masses say" but about being sufficiently ahead of the people to lead but near enough to hear them.
Wealth creation, not just job creation
He emphasised the need to battle poverty, but said the ANC was not just a working class organisation but a multi-class one.
"You can't sleep if your neighbour is hungry," he commented, emphasising the importance of the Millennium Development Goals.
He emphasised the need for job creation but warned this was not enough.
"It's about wealth creation not just holding a job."
He described his dream as "the dream of creating wealth for all".
Sexwale said an open society was essential for the free exchange of ideas.
"And may the best idea win."
Joking with the audience, Sexwale encouraged the development of the best idea around the controversial Soweto-Johannesburg monorail and his late arrival at the meeting,
"Let the best idea prevail so that next time I can be on time."
- SAPA