ANC denies slating Mbete over party
2011-11-14 16:25
Johannesburg - The ANC has taken issue with a news report that its chairperson Baleka Mbete has been slated for giving details about the cost of its centenary celebrations,
"We don't even know what inspired such reporting. When our leaders have spoken, they have spoken, and it's not up to members to be angry," African National Congress spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said on Monday.
He said the party would insist on a correction by the City Press, the newspaper concerned. Should it refuse to do so, the matter would be taken up with the press ombudsman.
City Press reported on Sunday that Mbete had come under fire after revealing that more than R100m would be spent the ANC's centenary celebrations.
She is in charge of the ANC's centenary committee.
ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa was said to have been furious when he heard that Mbete had mentioned the R100m figure, the newspaper reported.
City Press editor Ferial Haffajee said on Monday that the newspaper would not publish a correction.
"I am confident to defend the story at the press ombudsman," she said.
Haffajee said the interview was done on the record and that other sources "close to the action" had confirmed the report.
"I'm sorry they’re upset, because it was an innocuous story," she said.
- SAPA