President Thabo Mbeki, on his Mpumalanga election trail on Saturday, dismissed speculation that he would seek to change the Constitution in order to have a third term in office, SABC television reports.
”They (the opposition) create stories, they invent stories. They try to frighten people and cook up stories like — the ANC (African National Congress) — is planning to amend the constitution so that there can be a third term. It’s a complete lie,”
Mbeki further fobbed off talk that he would appoint two deputies and dug his heels in on his refusal to hold a public debate with Tony Leon, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) official opposition.
The DA said on Saturday that this was a display of the arrogance of power and a complete disregard for the voters of South Africa.
”President Mbeki is not King Thabo. He is a politician who seeks a mandate from the people. He should not forget that,” said the party’s chief election spokesperson Douglas Gibson.
”South Africans deserve the opportunity to weigh the parties on offer against one another, and the most effective way to do that is with a debate between the leaders.”
Gibson further charged that Mbeki was out of touch with the people of South Africa.
”He and the ANC just do not understand that a debate between the leaders of the two biggest parties in South Africa is about the people, and not about the leaders.”
Mbeki told television news there was a mindset that if somebody appeared next to the president they would appear to be important.
”That’s not what we are about,” Mbeki said on television.
”We are about getting the people to exercise their democratic right so that they can choose a government of their choice.” – Sapa