The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) on Monday expressed shock at African National Congress (ANC) chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota’s stance against singing liberation songs outside court buildings during criminal cases.
The student body was also disturbed at Lekota’s view on the wearing of T-shirts bearing certain political slogans.
”We call upon sober South Africans who understand the role played by the ANC and all allied structures in the struggle for liberation not to take this confusion by ‘Terror’ Lekota seriously until he discloses exactly what he has been smoking,” Cosas president Kenny Motshegoa said in a statement on Monday.
”Umshini Wami is a song that reflects the past and serves as a reminder of the difficult time of our struggle for liberation, and for us to sing it we do not need permission from anybody whether big, small or extra large.”
In an interview with the City Press newspaper, Lekota is reported to have said that the ANC would not get votes if its supporters were seen to be singing outside court buildings in support of people involved in a criminal trial.
He said ANC leaders should tell ANC members massing outside courts in support of people charged with crimes that this was wrong.
Referring to the ”100% Zuluboy” T-shirts worn outside ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma’s court appearances, he said T-shirts bearing the words ”100% Pedi” or ”100% Mosotho” should be banned at the ANC’s national conference in Polokwane in December.
”It is my view that anybody who does not distance themselves from tribalism is not fit to be a leader of the ANC. I would imagine that members of the ANC will not elect to leadership people that have indications of this kind of behaviour. It is simply unacceptable,” he was quoted as saying.
He has previously criticised the singing of Umshini Wami by Zuma and his supporters, saying they were not pop songs, but songs cultivated during the liberation struggle.
Cosas said Lekota was a disgrace to the ANC and an example of those who should not be elected to positions of responsibility within the party.
”In fact, if Terror Lekota can resign from the ANC and distance himself, the ANC will grow bigger in terms of membership and nobody will miss a cheap populist like him.
”We view his statements as an act to campaign for leadership positions.”
Cosas said Lekota’s comments on tribalism were an attempt to stop Zuma from becoming president of the ANC and said his ”state of mind is in a stage of critical emergency”.
Cosas would wear T-shirts displaying the candidate of their choice and would not debate it with anybody.
The students reaffirmed their support for Zuma to become ANC president.
”And we do not require any permission to do so,” Motshegoa said. — Sapa