• Tweet

SKATING ON THIN ICE? Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has often supported ANCYL's expelled president Julius Malema.

Gwede Mantashe

 Thank you very much for leading that campaign because it is as a result of your emphasis, the youth league's emphasis on the role we should be playing as freedom fighters 

RELATED ARTICLES

• 'Happy Birthday President Motlanthe' - ANCYL
• Malema joins Winnie to honour icon Mandela
• Angry Winnie tells ANC: Stop using Mandela family

This is according to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantanshe, who took a dim view of the decision by the organisation's stalwart to support Malema.

"What she is doing is dangerous for the organisation. She has taken a decision to go against the ANC national executive committee's (position) on Julius. She has decided to oppose the decision," Mantashe told the Sowetan yesterday.

Madikizela-Mandela was accompanied by Malema and other suspended ANCYL leaders - Floyd Shivambu and Sandiso Maqaga - during her 67 minutes in Qunu on Wednesday.

She referred to Malema as her grandson and thanked him for making "us see in our lifetime that it is possible to liberate our people economically and better their lives".

"Thank you very much for leading that campaign because it is as a result of your emphasis, the youth league's emphasis on the role we should be playing as freedom fighters."

Mantashe said he regarded Madikizela-Mandela's decision to support Malema as being ill-disciplined.

When asked if the ANC would seek a meeting with her or discipline her, he said that had nothing to do with the media.

But two NEC members, who spoke to the Sowetan, said Madikizela-Mandela was caught up in factional battles and her actions showed that she wanted President Jacob Zuma replaced in December.

Madikizela-Mandela's stance comes after she recently refused to attend the ANC's centenary memorial lecture, which was delivered by President Jacob Zuma in Limpopo.

She wrote a scathing letter to ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu, accusing the ANC of using the Mandela name and subjecting the family to shabby treatment.

Madikizela-Mandela's relationship with Malema dates to as far back as when she was in trouble with the law andMalema took her side.

She was charged with fraud but in July 2004 an appeal judge of the Pretoria High Court ruled that "the crimes were not committed for personal gain".

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed May 22 04:27:43 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 20, 2012

vivla

Can sowetan please stop informing us about the ANC. It is very depressing because nothing changes, the backstabbing get worse, the lies are pathetic, logic and common sense is not applicable. Haai maan ba bora.
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

januswanus

Life goes on.
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

Senganga247

That was not an ANC gathering but well wishers for Madiba. Is there anything wrong with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela coming with someone she considers as her grandson? Does the ANC now choose who you associate with even outside ANC programs?
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

Chichi7

Thought people were free to choose who they supported. Were these two not building homes or something like that? Is that not something to be proud of ANC?
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

Memme

Gwede thinks they can control Winnie, or do they want the whole world to be against Malema?? Winnie is a grown woman who is entitled to do what she feels is right.

Ke kgopela Gwede ayo hlapa a kute le ditedu tse mpe tse and stop being so angry at the world. Malema is threatening them so much which is why they don't want him to be associated with some ANC members - Wa gafa Morena Mantashe.
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

MommaC

I still can't get over the photo in Mail and Guardian!

Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

Mahungu

Its her choice, dont you think wena Gwede? Just leave this Magogo alone and shut up.
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

ProgressiveAfricanDemocrat

A little honesty from Gwede Mantashe will help the situation.Mantashe's statement on Madikizela-Mandela is really dishonest and self-serving. More than anyone Madikizela-Mandela knows that Malema's disciplinary hearing was politically inspired and aimed at removable a formidable campaigner in ANC circles in the runup to Mangaung. Mantashe should know by now that he is unlikely to survive Mangaung. It is not ill-discipline of Madikizela-Mandela to take a public stand and expose the hypocrisy and double standards in the ANC. Mantashe talks about an NEC which has failed dismally to uphold the ANC Constitution, and act without fear or favour in applying discipline. The likes of Mantashe still insist with straight faces that Malema's censure was about discipline when he himself knows deep in his heart that it IS DEFINITELY NOT TRUE. I trust more and more NEC members will come out publicly to expose the hypocrisy and double standards in the ANC.
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

Mdala

Well Mantashe why don't you bring charges against mama if she breaks ANC's constitution? why do you think Mandela divorced this old b!tch? and why she was slapped (chisa mpama style) by Mbeki during the June16 celebrations? Go figure yourself about this so overrated tw@t.
Report Abuse

Jul 20, 2012

Mellow

Gwede are you gonna give winnie the pooh what julie@rse is giving her? This is one war I dont see ANC winning a woman going thru menopause playing voet voet with a Ben-10 is just a ticking bomb especially when that Ben-10 is chubby cheeks barney aka julie@rse
Report Abuse

Read all 310 comments