While there was nothing ”improper” about the current stormy relations between the government and the official opposition, the onus lay with President Thabo Mbeki to set the tone for some interaction, Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said on Thursday.
Interviewed at former president Nelson Mandela’s Houghton, Johannesburg office where the two had met privately earlier, Leon said that except for a channel provided by Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s occasional meetings with leaders of the opposition parties, there had never been a formal meeting between himself and Mbeki.
This, Leon said, was in contrast to the days of Mandela who had ”set a premium” in relations with the opposition.
”With President Mandela there’s always been a great willingness to work across the political spectrum,” Leon said.
In his capacity as the leader of government business in the National Assembly, Zuma holds occasional albeit unofficial meetings with opposition leaders where they discuss particular issues affecting the country — with the last gathering having taken place early this year.
Mbeki and Leon have, however, never held a formal meeting together.
The government as far back as August 2000 poured cold water on the idea of holding regular meetings merely because it was previous custom in South Africa.
Mandela said on Thursday he had always ”admired” Leon as ”one of our sharpest politicians”.
He said that despite what some people thought, when someone like Leon raised issues affecting the country they were not just seeking publicity.
Mandela said he had discussed ”serious issues” with Leon and DA foreign affairs spokesman Colin Eglin, who accompanied Leon, which he could not divulge to the media.
He also declined to comment on the issue of a Boland farmer who, together with the DA, are trying to have Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe arrested in South Africa for crimes against humanity.
”I prefer to express my views on such sensitive matters to the multilateral organisation such as the SADC (Southern African Development Community),” Mandela said.
Leon, however, said there should be a consequence if Mugabe or
anyone else committed a crime against humanity.
He said things were ”pretty desperate” in Zimbabwe and that he was hoping something could be done very soon to alleviate the situation. – Sapa