The African National Congress (ANC) has noted the opportunistic attempts by the EFF to bring before Parliament a motion to rename Cape Town International Airport. This motion had nothing to do with their desire to honour Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, an icon who dedicated her life to the ANC, but a political grand standing to score cheap political points.
Renaming geographic places and honouring icons of our liberation struggle are firmly located within the ambit of the ANC’s policy positions aimed at advancing social cohesion and building a society that draws strength from its diversity.
The ANC government, through its Department of Transport, initiated a process to rename the Cape Town International Airport. This process is guided by the law and places public consultation at the centre. The process itself is still at the public consultation stage and Cabinet will make its determination once this process has been exhausted.
The use of lies to seek political fortunes undermines democracy and is an insult to the intelligence of the citizens. We have no doubt that South Africans will see through this charade and will not be hoodwinked into supporting a party that places very little value in honesty and integrity. Demagogues do nothing for our democracy and have no meaningful role in our body politic.
The EFF’s disdain for the rule of law and due process is a demonstration of their lack of appreciation of democracy and rather an obsession with politics of expediency. Their antics since the advent of the fifth Parliament have shown a party that is steeped in populism devoid of content that enables a forward momentum.
The disrespectful hijacking of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s funeral affirms this view and further exposed a confused party with no discernible ideology. It exposed a party that seeks to project itself as a better version of the ANC, unable to carve its own identity.
Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela remains an honoured icon of the ANC and our liberation struggle. She is the recipient of the highest honour the ANC bestows on its members for a lifetime of dedicated service, Isithwalandwe/Seaparankwe. Her name is forever inscribed in the books of history as she joins other distinguished leaders who were similarly bestowed Izithwalandwe such as Chief Albert Luthuli, Father Trevor Huddlestone, Lillian Ngoyi, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Andrew Mlangeni, Sophie de Bruyn and many others.
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
Dakota Legoete
Acting National Spokesperson
072 718 5955
Enquiries:
Mhlabunzima Memela
National Media Relations Manager
084 817 9116
