Transport Minister Jeff Radebe on Saturday denied a Mail & Guardian report that he had backed businessman Tokyo Sexwale’s ”presidential ambitions”, and called for a withdrawal of the article, but the newspaper says it stands by its story.
The report on Friday said that Radebe had attended a party at the home of former Robben Island prisoner Peter-Paul Ngwenya and that Radebe, former North West Premier Popo Molefe and Sexwale had a ”robust discussion” about Sexwale’s presidential ambitions, and the two men gave Sexwale their backing.
”Following the Mail & Guardian’s article of May 18 2007, ‘Who is Behind Tokyo’s Campaign?’, the Ministry of Transport would like to place it on record that Minister Radebe never attended any party at Mr Peter-Paul Ngwenya’s residence,” statement said.
”Nor is he aware of the location of his residence. He also never had any robust discussion, at any point, with Mr Popo Molefe and Mr Sexwale regarding Tokyo’s presidential ambitions. Nor has he given his backing to Mr Sexwale’s alleged campaign.
”We are strongly disturbed by the publishing of such blatant lies, without the verification of facts. The Mail & Guardian is strongly advised to withdraw such statements as a matter of urgency, before the ministry considers its legal options.”
In reply, M&G associate deputy editor Nic Dawes said: ”The fact that Mr Radebe thinks that it is legally contestable to mention his name in connection with a candidate for leadership shows how unhealthy the climate surrounding the African National Congress succession process currently is.
”We would like to see a more much more open contest, but until then we will be scrupulous in checking our facts. In this case we believe we were, and we stand by our story.”
In a recent interview with BBC Hard Talk, Sexwale said he had been lobbied as a possible successor to President Thabo Mbeki, who is expected to stand down in 2009.
Robben Island
On Friday the M&G reported that an amalgam of Cabinet ministers, provincial leaders and ex-political prisoners is said to form the bulk of the group lobbying for businessman Tokyo Sexwale to take the Union Buildings in 2009. But other senior party leaders have lambasted his pronouncement that he would accept a presidential nomination.
It was reported that the M&G has learnt from sources close to Sexwale that ”a group of activists” from the Cabinet, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and among ex-Robben Island prisoners are driving his campaign.
They say this group includes Gauteng Finance Minister Paul Mashatile, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, former Nelson Mandela metropolitan Mayor Nceba Faku, businessman and former ANC activist in the Eastern Cape Mpumi Gaba and businessman and ANC national executive committee member Popo Molefe.
The M&G was told by two sources that Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan and Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula had also recently met with Sexwale to discuss his presidential bid, but the M&G was unable to confirm this before going to press.
In January this year the Sunday Times reported that Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad, Minister of Social Development Zola Skweyiya and Jordan had asked Sexwale to make himself available for the party’s presidency. However, both ministers denied the reports. — Sapa