SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande's address at the 6th Cosatu Central Committee meeting seems to have rubbed former President Thabo Mbeki the wrong way.
Mbeki has written a letter to Nzimande asking him to 'substantiate' some of the remarks he made in his speech over a week ago in which he compares the controversies around Jacob Zuma's presidency - including the leaking of e-mails - to those that happened in Mbeki's tenure as the president which led to his recall in 2007.
In his speech, Nzimande said that the tripartite alliance - ANC, SACP and Cosatu - asked Mbeki to step down as the president because he wanted to create an imperial presidency, the same thing, according to Nzimande, that is happening in Zuma's administration.
"The reason why sathi uMbeki akahambe [that Mbeki must go] is because he was wanting to create an imperial presidency. We are back there. History repeats itself comrade Solly [Mapaila]," said Nzimande in his address.
He went on to say that everything that happened during Mbeki's term in office is happening again "even the e-mails are coming back. There were e-mails then there are e-mails now".
Mbeki has now written a letter to Nzimande, which SowetanLIVE has seen, asking him to "substantiate" the 'concerning' comments "with which I disagree".
"I am very interested that you substantiate this startling and extraordinary statement."
Mbeki asked Nzimande to details how his alleged "imperial presidential system" manifested itself, how the "hoax e-mails" compare with the recent alleged "Gupta e-mails", give evidence of the existence and operations of "rogue intelligence unit" which operated during Mbeki's administration and also give details on "these other many things (zonke izinto) which happened during our Administration which are now happening under Zuma Administration.
Mbeki said that Nzimande's response in this regard would "help critically to explain what our revolutionary democratic movement must do to correctly address the important challenges you posed in your address at the 2017 COSATU CC Meeting".
The SACP said that they have not received the letter from the former president and that they were not at liberty to comment on the contents of it therefore.
SACP spokesperson AleX Mashilo said that they are aware of a letter and that they were concerned that it is doing the rounds on social media but has not been official sent to them.
"If what we see on social media is a letter that was addressed to the SACP, then that deals a blow to the principles that president Thabo Mbeki represents. In reference to the manner [which the letter has been handled], not the contents," said Mashilo.
Mbeki's letter sent by Thabo Mbeki Foundation
Mbeki unhappy over comparison to Zuma
SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande's address at the 6th Cosatu Central Committee meeting seems to have rubbed former President Thabo Mbeki the wrong way.
Mbeki has written a letter to Nzimande asking him to 'substantiate' some of the remarks he made in his speech over a week ago in which he compares the controversies around Jacob Zuma's presidency - including the leaking of e-mails - to those that happened in Mbeki's tenure as the president which led to his recall in 2007.
In his speech, Nzimande said that the tripartite alliance - ANC, SACP and Cosatu - asked Mbeki to step down as the president because he wanted to create an imperial presidency, the same thing, according to Nzimande, that is happening in Zuma's administration.
"The reason why sathi uMbeki akahambe [that Mbeki must go] is because he was wanting to create an imperial presidency. We are back there. History repeats itself comrade Solly [Mapaila]," said Nzimande in his address.
He went on to say that everything that happened during Mbeki's term in office is happening again "even the e-mails are coming back. There were e-mails then there are e-mails now".
Mbeki has now written a letter to Nzimande, which SowetanLIVE has seen, asking him to "substantiate" the 'concerning' comments "with which I disagree".
"I am very interested that you substantiate this startling and extraordinary statement."
Mbeki asked Nzimande to details how his alleged "imperial presidential system" manifested itself, how the "hoax e-mails" compare with the recent alleged "Gupta e-mails", give evidence of the existence and operations of "rogue intelligence unit" which operated during Mbeki's administration and also give details on "these other many things (zonke izinto) which happened during our Administration which are now happening under Zuma Administration.
Mbeki said that Nzimande's response in this regard would "help critically to explain what our revolutionary democratic movement must do to correctly address the important challenges you posed in your address at the 2017 COSATU CC Meeting".
The SACP said that they have not received the letter from the former president and that they were not at liberty to comment on the contents of it therefore.
SACP spokesperson AleX Mashilo said that they are aware of a letter and that they were concerned that it is doing the rounds on social media but has not been official sent to them.
"If what we see on social media is a letter that was addressed to the SACP, then that deals a blow to the principles that president Thabo Mbeki represents. In reference to the manner [which the letter has been handled], not the contents," said Mashilo.
Mbeki's letter sent by Thabo Mbeki Foundation
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