THE alleged "side comments" made by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoane-Mashabane about Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe being a "crazy old man" should not be taken seriously, said her deputy Ebrahim Ebrahim
"A lot of people say things about leaders all the time; some are maybe said seriously and some not so seriously. This is not something to worry about, there are more fundamental issues to worry about," Ebrahim told journalists in Pretoria after bilateral talks with British Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham.
"Mandela even once said he doesn't think George Bush (former US president) can think properly.
"I'm sure you know people had terrible things to say about Margaret Thatcher (former UK prime minister) ... I think we should take it in that spirit, I don't think it's a serious matter whether he says it's a 'crazy old man' or a 'wise old man'."
Ebrahim further said the comments contained in documents leaked to whistleblower website WikiLeaks would not affect the good relations that South Africa and Zimbabwe share and that it would not affect mediation talks.
Ebrahim, who flew in from the UK yesterday afternoon, has not yet discussed the matter with Nkoane-Mashabane.
WikiLeaks has leaked the first batch of 250000 US diplomatic cables it has been given access to.
The cables, which include unflattering remarks about many world leaders, also include embarrassing revelations of how South Africa and the US view Zimbabwe's leaders.
During their meeting, Ebrahim and Bellingham also touched on Zimbabwe, following President Jacob Zuma's visit to Zimbabwe last Friday. Bellingham said Britain was keen to see a credible election, one that was recognised by the international community.
"We are delighted that President Zuma went to Zimbabwe on Friday and met all three party leaders. Britain will listen to our key friends in South Africa about views on the way forward for Zimbabwe," he said.
Asked about what he thought of Mugabe wanting Bush and former UK president Tony Blair to be indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes instead of prosecuting Sudan's leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Bellingham replied: "He does come up with comments from time to time ... doesn't he? And one has to probably take them with a bit of interest ... what Robert Mugabe said are his own views, I don't think I agree with them."
Comments on Mugabe 'were not serious'
THE alleged "side comments" made by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoane-Mashabane about Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe being a "crazy old man" should not be taken seriously, said her deputy Ebrahim Ebrahim
"A lot of people say things about leaders all the time; some are maybe said seriously and some not so seriously. This is not something to worry about, there are more fundamental issues to worry about," Ebrahim told journalists in Pretoria after bilateral talks with British Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham.
"Mandela even once said he doesn't think George Bush (former US president) can think properly.
"I'm sure you know people had terrible things to say about Margaret Thatcher (former UK prime minister) ... I think we should take it in that spirit, I don't think it's a serious matter whether he says it's a 'crazy old man' or a 'wise old man'."
Ebrahim further said the comments contained in documents leaked to whistleblower website WikiLeaks would not affect the good relations that South Africa and Zimbabwe share and that it would not affect mediation talks.
Ebrahim, who flew in from the UK yesterday afternoon, has not yet discussed the matter with Nkoane-Mashabane.
WikiLeaks has leaked the first batch of 250000 US diplomatic cables it has been given access to.
The cables, which include unflattering remarks about many world leaders, also include embarrassing revelations of how South Africa and the US view Zimbabwe's leaders.
During their meeting, Ebrahim and Bellingham also touched on Zimbabwe, following President Jacob Zuma's visit to Zimbabwe last Friday. Bellingham said Britain was keen to see a credible election, one that was recognised by the international community.
"We are delighted that President Zuma went to Zimbabwe on Friday and met all three party leaders. Britain will listen to our key friends in South Africa about views on the way forward for Zimbabwe," he said.
Asked about what he thought of Mugabe wanting Bush and former UK president Tony Blair to be indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes instead of prosecuting Sudan's leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Bellingham replied: "He does come up with comments from time to time ... doesn't he? And one has to probably take them with a bit of interest ... what Robert Mugabe said are his own views, I don't think I agree with them."
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