President Thabo Mbeki has defended ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma and Zuma's supporters' right to protest, saying this neither amounted to intimidation of the justice system, nor to a lack of patriotism.
Mbeki was answering a question on Thursday in parliament where the DA's Sydney Opperman questioned the patriotism of Zuma and his supporters, saying "a person cannot be regarded as a patriot, if that person disrespected the rule of law".
In a clear reference to Zuma, Opperman charged that "the present mobilisation of unruly supporters when a high-profile politician appears in court on criminal charges borders on the promotion of mob rule". Opperman added that this was even more of a concern when such a politician took the podium right in front of the court to sing or chant that people must bring him a "machine gun".
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Opperman's comment was based on a literal interpretation of Zuma's favourite struggle-day slogan, "Awulethe umshini wami", Zulu for "give me my gun", and has seen some commentators warning that the Zuma-versus-Mbeki debacle might lead to political violence.
Opperman, in a similar vein, asserted: "Mr President, this is war talk, it causes a serious threat to national unity, patriotism and moral regeneration. Will you, Mr President, deal with this having your laid-back approach, or will you take off your gloves?"
But, far from being in the mood for war-talk, Mbeki, was in a humorous, relaxed and conciliatory mood.
"I have not had gloves for many years, Mr Opperman. But I believe we have to respect the rights of people to demonstrate and to express their views as it is very fundamental to the practise of democracy in the country," Mbeki replied.
"In any instance where the law might be broken, I am sure that the police would take the necessary action to deal with that.
"But there should be no stage in which people would come to the conclusion that the democracy which they fought for and created is intolerant of them expressing their views by way of demonstration or any other way," said Mbeki.
Mbeki's reply echoed the stance taken by his cabinet a few weeks ago, when although expressing concern at Zuma's supporters burning ANC T-shirts bearing Mbeki's face, the cabinet acknowledged the demonstrators' right to peaceful protest.
Mbeki also disputed an assertion by the IFP's Nhlanhla Zulu who argued that there were no impressive results indicating that South Africa was making progress in forging a new patriotism and social cohesion.
"Given the facts of where we come from, we have had impressive returns and we actually do not have a choice except to stick to this part of national unity, new patriotism and respect for our diversity.
"If we fail anywhere, let's try again," said Mbeki.
- This article was originally published on page 8 of Cape Argus on October 28, 2005
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