/ 12 July 2011

‘It’s easier to overthrow a govt than to govern it’

'it's Easier To Overthrow A Govt Than To Govern It'

One of the few surviving Rivonia trialists — who stood alongside Nelson Mandela in the dock in 1963 — issued a subtle warning against autocracy and crumbling racial unity at the 48th anniversary of the trial in Sandton on Monday evening.

"It's easier to overthrow a government than to govern it," Umkhonto weSizwe stalwart Denis Goldberg said, directing his comments at President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma later affirmed Goldberg's comments in a nearly hour-long address where he spoke passionately about the trial, often deviating from his speech to offer anecdotes of the history of the event.

He also laughed as he recognised Goldberg's self-characterisation as a "cheeky old devil", who was set against the abuse of power.

Goldberg (74) started his speech by greeting all the assembled dignitaries — which included Robert McBride, mining mogul Patrice Motsepe and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan — and then "the most important people, those who made them dignitaries by voting them into power".

Taking on Madiba
After reading a message from former president Nelson Mandela, who could not attend, he recounted how he had once warned Mandela to lead collectively, when he believed the ANC leader had started acting autocratically.

"He has always been cheeky," said Zuma, as he referenced the story in his own speech. "You can imagine, arguing with Madiba!"

But Goldberg, who spent 22 years in prison as one of 10 ANC leaders tried and convicted for trying to overthrow the apartheid regime, was serious about the subject of racial unity.

"Tens of thousands of people grasped this very sophisticated concept: That we weren't fighting against whites — but white supremacy."

Unity in the face of challenges
He went on to add that the country could only fight poverty if they achieved racial unity, "which some of our impatient younger comrades must remember".

Zuma agreed with Goldberg on the need for greater social cohesion. "We need more unity among ourselves than ever before, as the challenges become more daunting."

He also noted the particulars of the struggle were being forgotten. "We are not telling the story — perhaps because we are too busy — of our struggle, its phases [and] what it was that made the ANC so powerful."

He commended the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), which was launched in the same period, and where Zuma distinguished himself as a leader.

Heritage site
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile announced later in the evening that Lilliesleaf farm in Rivonia, where the trialists were captured, would be turned into a heritage site.

The farm was bought by the MK high command and the South African Communist Party, and was to be used as a meeting place and a hideout for banned activists.

However, on July 11 1963, police raided the farm and found the men studying "Operation Mayibuye" — an MK proposal for guerrilla warfare and revolution.

Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Rusty Bernstein, Ahmed Kathrada, Denis Goldberg, James Kantor, Andrew Mlangeni, Raymond Mhlaba, Nelson Mandela and Elias Motsoaledi were arrested.

Lavish affair
The gala awards celebration on Monday evening was a lavish affair, with about 63 beautifully decorated eight-seater tables and a sumptuous three-course meal with wine. However at least a dozen tables stood empty or half-filled at the venue in the Sandton Convention Centre.

Originally scheduled for June 12, to coincide with the end of the Rivonia Trial, it was postponed by about a month, after the death of struggle heroine Albertina Sisulu.

The event was organised by the Umkhonto weSizwe Veterans Association (MKVA), together with the department of arts and culture.

The association thanked the department for its assistance and gave a nod to their sponsors: the South African Post Office and, "a few individuals who can't be mentioned for obvious reasons".

But present in the audience, among the VIPs, were controversial businessmen Kenny Kunene as well as Atul Gupta.

Outside, copies of the Gupta's newspaper, the New Age, covered several metres of floor space and were handed out to guests.

The Gupta family did not immediately return questions about their involvement with the celebration.

The MKVA has however received shares from a company linked to the Gupta family via its investment arm.

  • Additional reporting by Sapa