Parties slam Mbeki comments
2004-03-22 18:15
Rustenburg - In a hard-hitting address to thousands of African National Congress supporters in Rustenburg, President Thabo Mbeki on Monday told them not to vote for "silly parties" like the New National Party, the Democratic Alliance or the African Christian Democratic Party.
He said if ever his sister was to arrive home and tell him that she was in love with ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe, he would have to beat her.
"No other parties can solve the problems of this country," he said, urging supporters to vote for the ANC on April 14.
Mbeki, visiting squatter camps, miners, taxi operators and businessmen on his election tour of Rustenburg, was mobbed by supporters wherever he went.
The Democratic Alliance and the African Christian Democratic Party were swift to react to Mbeki's remarks.
Democratic Alliance national chairperson Joe Seremane said Mbeki should urgently clarify or categorically apologise for the "shocking" comments.
"The president should act as a guardian of human rights. To insult and undermine women on a day set aside to celebrate human rights must mark as one of the lowest points of his term in office.
"The harsh reality of South Africa today is that millions of South African women have been beaten and abused.
"In making his threat - be it seriously or in jest - the president has made it clear that he has no regard for the rights of women," Seremane said.
The ACDP's national spokesperson, Rev Selby Khumalo, said that once again, Mbeki was showing all South Africans that he was desperate.
"If he considers other political parties to be silly, why is he worried about them?
"Mr Mbeki's statement about Rev Meshoe will anger his supporters, who are witnessing moral decay in this country by the ANC's immoral laws."
- SAPA