The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) said on Saturday that it will never join hands with the African National Congress (ANC), which it accuses of ”cut-throat capitalism” that only benefits its own party officials.
Speaking at the 29th Robert Sobukwe Commemoration rally at the Collie Koeberg Stadium in Graaff-Reinet, PAC president Letlapa Mphahlele said the ANC is an unreliable partner for authentic social, political and economic change.
”We unapologetically stand opposed to the ruling party. We opposed them for plunging Azania into the mud of neo-colonialism and pseudo liberation. They are for cut-throat capitalism and we stand for socialism,” said Mphahlele.
”Where they stand for enrichment for a few party hacks and officials, we stand for equitable redistribution of wealth among the ordinary Azanians,” said Mphahlele.
He said that people are mistaken to suggest that the PAC should join the ANC because of its dwindling membership.
”The ANC will never help the PAC to become strong in order to be the next ruling party. The strength of the PAC is the responsibility of the PAC and only the PAC members.
”We solicit no favour from the ANC and we’ll accept none. It is a political idiocy of the despicable degree to believe that an alliance with the ANC is a magic formula to change the PAC fortunes,” said Mphahlele.
He also accused the ANC of denying Sobukwe his rightful place in the history struggle and reiterated the party’s call to have the University of Fort Hare renamed after Sobukwe.
”Sobukwe wanted the university to be loud and clear on matters deeply affecting the Africans. We therefore propose that Fort Hare be renamed Mangaliso Sobukwe University and move a step forward and be the barometer of African thought,” said Mphahlele. — Sapa