Peter Dickson
A race war has erupted in the Eastern Cape town of Jeffreys Bay, after its mayor decided he did not want Nelson Mandela’s face in his office.
Mayor Pierre van Wyk’s inauguration ceremony was boycotted by African National Congress councillors last week after he removed photos of Nelson Mandela, Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile and former Gauteng premier Tokyo Sexwale from his office. He declined to comment.
Slamming the decision as “insensitive” and “casting a dark shadow of racism over Jeffreys Bay”, the ANC says it will not rest until Van Wyk restores the photographs.
Freedom Front Eastern Cape leader Willem Botha says deciding what pictures should be hung in the mayor’s parlour is Van Wyk’s prerogative.
But deputy mayor Robbie Dennis, Jeffreys Bay ANC chair, says: “The office of the mayor does not belong to a specific person. We will approach the town clerk to arrange a meeting, and if the mayor hasn’t capitulated by a date we will set with him, we will go into full action.” Dennis, who was ousted as mayor by Van Wyk, said possible protest action included sit-ins and demonstrations.
A photograph of President Thabo Mbeki has not arrived yet, Dennis said, adding that: “Until we get that, why can’t Madiba’s picture stay?”
Jeffreys Bay would be better off, says the ANC, if “certain municipal officials” altered their “narrowly set political outlook”.