ANC denies Boesak 'snub'

2007-02-08 10:38

Johannesburg - Deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and senior ANC leaders have tried to smooth ruffled feathers over the treatment of the party's former Western Cape leader, Allan Boesak, The Star reported on Thursday.

The cleric was dropped as a speaker at ANC stalwart Adelaide Tambo's memorial service in Cape Town on Wednesday after he was originally asked to deliver the homily by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.

Mlambo-Ngcuka had a private word with Boesak when mourners were asked to shake each others' hands in the Anglican tradition of sharing the peace.

The Johannesburg daily reported that Boesak and his wife Elna were initially seated in the pews occupied by the rest of the mourners, but were later moved to the front row reserved for VIPs.

Boesak was forced to withdraw as a speaker after pressure and "sensitivities" from some people in the ANC, according to Ndungane.

The ANC in parliament, which helped to organise the service, earlier tried to downplay the snubbing of Boesak, saying his removal from the list related to "practicality" and limiting the number of people who would speak.

- SAPA