Mhlaba Memela
Mhlaba Memela
The fight over who owns the Luthuli name legacy continues.
Yesterday the ANC entered the fray between the family of former president In-kosi Albert Luthuli and the Congress of the People (Cope).
The family of the Nobel Peace laureate called on the ANC splinter party Cope to stop "abusing Luthuli's name" to justify their breakaway from the ANC.
Luthuli's daughter-in-law Veli told Sowetan this week that the family was firmly behind the ANC. She said the family was not happy about the way Cope leaders had been misusing their father's legacy for their own "selfish" ends.
Cope responded by saying it will call for a meeting with the Luthuli family to discuss the matter. Cope spokesman Siyanda Mhlongo said they would not seek permission from anyone in the family, even if they wanted to visit Luthuli's grave, because "he (Luthuli) belongs to everyone".
ANC provincial spokesman Nomfundo Mcetywa said Cope had been trying to gain support in Groutville, the home of Luthuli, by using his legacy after failing to make any inroads in the province.
"We call on Cope to respect the call from the Luthuli family to not use his name to solicit support for the party in KwaZulu-Natal," she said.
Row over Luthuli name legacy continues
Mhlaba Memela
Mhlaba Memela
The fight over who owns the Luthuli name legacy continues.
Yesterday the ANC entered the fray between the family of former president In-kosi Albert Luthuli and the Congress of the People (Cope).
The family of the Nobel Peace laureate called on the ANC splinter party Cope to stop "abusing Luthuli's name" to justify their breakaway from the ANC.
Luthuli's daughter-in-law Veli told Sowetan this week that the family was firmly behind the ANC. She said the family was not happy about the way Cope leaders had been misusing their father's legacy for their own "selfish" ends.
Cope responded by saying it will call for a meeting with the Luthuli family to discuss the matter. Cope spokesman Siyanda Mhlongo said they would not seek permission from anyone in the family, even if they wanted to visit Luthuli's grave, because "he (Luthuli) belongs to everyone".
ANC provincial spokesman Nomfundo Mcetywa said Cope had been trying to gain support in Groutville, the home of Luthuli, by using his legacy after failing to make any inroads in the province.
"We call on Cope to respect the call from the Luthuli family to not use his name to solicit support for the party in KwaZulu-Natal," she said.