Archbishop Desmond Tutu has had to balance his praise of government with negative comments to avoid being labelled a ”ruling party lapdog”, said ANC Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe.
A rift has formed between Tutu and the ANC over comments he made while delivering this year’s Nelson Mandela Lecture, where he said: ”We should not too quickly want to pull rank and to demand an uncritical, sycophantic, obsequious conformity. We should debate more openly — not using emotive language. We should not be browbeaten by pontificating decrees from on high. It should be possible to talk as adults about these issues without engaging in slanging matches.”
On Thursday, Motlanthe told delegates at the ANC Gauteng 9th provincial congress that Tutu’s comments were an indication of the pressure on people to conform to the ”ideological straight-jacket of reaction”.
People should not be afraid or apologetic about expressing their views.
”We should not be [cowed] into silence by those who claim to uphold free expression, yet seek to deny us our right to exercise it.”
Tutu was obliged to perform this balancing act in much the same way as many black professionals.
”…. they have to preface their views by saying: ‘I am not a politician’.”
He said dominant discourse had sought to ensure that politicians and public representatives were equalled with dishonesty and corruption.
”This discourse has encouraged a general mistrust of everyone and everything associated with political activity.”
He told delegates they should work to counter this agenda. – Sapa