ANC disapproves of Winnie's conduct

By M. S. Prabhakara

CAPE TOWN, JUNE 20. The African National Congress has strongly criticised Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the senior ANC leader and President of the ANC Women's League, for ``behaviour unbecoming of her standing as a leader'' during the 25th anniversary commemoration of the Soweto uprising at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto, on June 16.

In a statement issued yesterday evening, the ANC accused Ms Madikizela-Mandela of attempting to ``enjoin the President into her tomfoolery'' from which Mr. Mbeki ``went on to protect himself from this caper''. The carefully worded statement, however, avoids words like ``censure'' or ``condemn''; it only expresses its ``regret'' over ``what occurred at this particular historic occasion and hopes that the matter will now be laid to rest''.

The ANC was reacting for the first time to what it describes as ``the unfortunate incident'' at the Youth Day rally in Orlando Stadium, Soweto, on June 16. During the rally, Ms. Madikizela- Mandela, who arrived late at the function, appeared to upstage the President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, when her arrival was greeted by welcoming ululation by her supporters, causing an interruption in the proceedings. She then proceeded to the podium and tried to greet Mr. Mbeki with a hug and a kiss. Mr. Mbeki, however, literally gave her the brush-off, pushing her away in a public gesture of exasperation and rebuke.

The ANC statement noted that ``Comrade Winnie'' made her entry late into the stadium, and disregarded the request by the Master of Ceremonies to join other guests in the VIP section in front of the podium. ``Determined to flaunt her disrespect for the occasion and for everybody else, she marched on to the podium and proceeded to enjoin the President into her tomfoolery. President Thabo Mbeki went on to protect himself from this caper. The ANC believes that the behaviour of the President of the ANC Women's League was unbecoming of her standing as a leader. Only those who lack sense of occasion would approve of such unbecoming conduct. The ANC disapproves strongly of this behaviour''.

There has been no comment on the contretemps from Ms. Madikizela- Mandela who has checked into a Johannesburg hospital for blood pressure and stress-related problems. However, Opposition leaders for whom the personality and politics of Ms. Madikizela-Mandela is simply poison, continue to criticise Mr. Mbeki for his ``bad manners'' and ``unbecoming conduct''.

The construction being put by these parties on Mr. Mbeki's dismissive gesture is that it reflected the all-too- endemic violence against women in South African society. The Democratic Alliance, the official Opposition party, has described Mr. Mbeki's behaviour as ``unpresidential'' and has called on him to ``apologise''. The party's chief whip, Mr. Douglas Gibson, yesterday gave notice of a motion in the National Assembly, reiterating the commitment to the principle that ``violence against women in private or in public'' is unacceptable.

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Section  : International
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