ANC disrespecting Mandela family - Winnie
2012-07-10 21:06
Cape Town - The African National Congress, under President Jacob Zuma's leadership, has been accused of disrespecting the Mandela family, the Mail & Guardian (M&G) has reported.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, in a response to a request from Luthuli House to meet with the family to discuss Tuesday's ANC centenary celebrations, where President Jacob Zuma was to deliver a lecture on Nelson Mandela, rejected the party's proposal for a number of reasons but that "hundreds more" existed.
She said in an e-mail addressed to ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu that in the past the ANC "never had any interest in celebrating Tata's [Mandela's] birthday except to gate crash on the family's arrangements" and that its attitude towards the family proved that "we do not matter at all", the report said.
Madikizela-Mandela claimed the the family was still grappling with the most shabby treatment throughout the years, according to the M&G.
She was especially upset about events in Mangaung in January this year.
"As I indicated we are deeply hurt as the family. We did not even have a table and the situation was saved by Mrs Bridgette Radebe," she wrote.
"No one has cared to establish how we are doing as a family. It is quite clear that we do not matter at all, we only do when we have to be used for some agenda."
A spectator
Madikizela-Mandela said she was "surprised" when the ANC approached her to be part of the centenary celebrations because "in 2011 when you were preparing for 2012, I was a spectator throughout".
The M&G reported that she took issue with the fact that no official from Luthuli House was present when the centenary flame was brought to her, and that instead the national leaders left the job to the provincial leaders.
"It was clear that a certain faction fought for it to be brought to me. Even more alarming was that the manner in which the centenary flame was brought to Tata left much to be desired.
"There was no parade of the soldiers as there was to me. It was clear that it was done for someone's ego, not to the family," the report said
Madikizela-Mandela also condemned the ANC for purporting to care about her well-being.
Neither Zuma nor spokesperson Mthembu visited her when she was in hospital, let alone called her to wish her a speedy recovery, she wrote.
"I have been in and out of hospital since January 25 this year, not even one phone call from Luthuli House.
"Instead you [Mthembu] gave an interview saying I was recuperating from an ankle operation when you did not even care what kind of an operation I had.
"I never had an ankle operation, I had a knee operation," she said.
Mthembu said the ANC would not be commenting on the matter.
