The newly elected PAC president, Letlapa Mphahlele, ordered the 1993 attacks on Cape Town’s St James Church and Heidelberg Tavern. Here he speaks candidly about his past and the embattled party’s future
Did you order the Cape Town attacks because you hated white people?
It was a result of a prevailing political situation. People must remember that the attacks happened at the time of the Boipatong train and taxi massacres of the African people.
You refused to seek amnesty at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Why?
I had a problem with the whole set-up, because it equated the violence of the aggressor with the violence of the oppressed. Another major flaw of the TRC was that 80% of amnesty applicants were Africans and only 20% were white. The figures reflect that Africans were responsible for their own oppression, which is a fallacy. Also, you applied individually and were granted amnesty individually — overlooking the collective nature of the revolution.
Doesn’t that decision contradict your current involvement in the Lyndie Fourie Foundation and the Forgiveness Project?
No, because you can’t legislate for or against forgiveness; it’s an individual choice. My involvement with the people who were hurt because of my orders has no cut-off date — it is an unfolding process. I think it is the right thing to do because after hurting each other we must become agents of healing, spiritually and practically.
How do you justify your actions 13 years later?
I regret the loss of lives, but there was a history behind them.
Turning to the PAC, the party aims to increase its electoral support from 0,73% in 2004 to 10% in 2009? How?
We are aiming far beyond 10% and our approach starts with the revitalisation of the PAC: strengthening branches, rebuilding party infrastructure, engagement with all stakeholders and partnerships with civic organisations, youth movements and women’s organisations. We won’t run a race where we don’t set winning as our goal.
The PAC leadership has been torn apart by infighting for years. How do you propose to unite it?
Unity will come with reconciliation. The soul of the PAC has been wounded and needs a form of healing, because if pain is not transformed it will be transmitted. Moves are under way for reconciliation sessions where people will be encouraged to ask for forgiveness from those they’ve hurt. I’ve started the ball rolling. In my acceptance speech [as president] I asked for forgiveness from comrades I might have hurt with my words and actions.
The party has no resources. How will you address this?
It is not true that the PAC is under-resourced. We have members; people are a resource. But the PAC has been wasteful of its resources, of the great brains it once had. Even funds we received from sympathisers, locally and internationally, have not been properly accounted for. We must start a culture of being economical with our resources. The money we get from the Independent Electoral Commission must be properly accounted for, and the PAC should get its own premises, which, in itself, would be an investment.
How do the PAC’s land policies differ from those of the ANC?
We and the ANC agree on the return of land. When they say ”mayibuye [let it return]” we say ”izwe lethu [the land is ours]”. The only difference between the two parties is the willing seller, willing buyer principle. It is a non-starter [for the PAC].
PAC founder Robert Sobukwe’s description of an African was anyone who believes in the principle of African leadership. What is your definition of an African?
African is more than geographical. It is identification with Africa, her aspirations and her dreams, and the willingness to be part and parcel of a broad struggle to liberate her from domestic and foreign domination. Which means skin colour does not exist.
Who does the PAC want to see leading the country after 2009?
A PAC leader is decided at the party’s congress. We believe that, come 2009, with or without me as president, we must win 20% of the votes. By 2014 we dream of becoming the official opposition. In 2019 we want to be serious contestants for power.