By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The highly anticipated , ANC Today Letters: Volume 1,Thabo Mbeki book was launched at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg on Friday, 26 April. The book is a collection of his famous ANC Today Letters, in which he expressed his opinions on topical matters weekly.
The event drew a diverse crowd, including media representatives, business leaders, ANC members and curious individuals. As the Thabo Mbeki Foundation announced that only 30 copies of the book were available to be signed by the former president, excitement rippled through the audience, with eager readers rushing to secure their copies.
Mbeki implored attendees to not only purchase the book but truly read it, absorb its insights, and engage with the ideas and experiences shared within its pages.
The launch was attended by Mothobi Mutloatse of Skotaville Academic Publishing, the book’s publisher, and Sifiso Mxolisi Ndlovu, the editor, who played a crucial role in bringing this literary work to life.
Mutloatse, speaking about the 732-page book, offered his opinion that Mbeki should consider honing his historical literary skills.
He suggested: Mbeki should give us definitive biographies on figures such as OR Tambo, Julius Nyerere and Kenneth Kaunda.
In jest, Mutloatse assigned the 81-year-old Mbeki with writing these books and more, up to volume 7, by the time he turns 90. “He should produce one book a year, but if he wants to be a multi-tasking guru, he could produce two. After all, who can tell African stories besides us?”
When delivering his address at the launch, Mbeki, dressed in a coloured shirt and traditional tie with Ndebele patterns, explained: “This style is called colour blocking.” He acknowledged receiving them as a gift from Esther Mahlangu, an artist known for her bold large-scale contemporary paintings that reference her Ndebele heritage.
Recalling his time in government, Mbeki expressed his belief that everyone understood that every day was a struggle. He described being allocated an office with basic furniture and no supplies, on becoming deputy president.
“There was no handover from a previous deputy president. We were starting afresh. We tried our best,” he admitted. “I’m sure there were mistakes we made and wrong things we did.”
Mbeki also acknowledged a sense of frustration with media coverage during his tenure. He felt that the story of South Africa’s remaking wasn’t being told accurately.
Newspapers would request interviews, hoping it would help communicate our ideas but, often, the interviewer would use the opportunity to express their own views.
This ultimately led to the decision to tell their own stories through the ANC Today letters.
“We had no voice, so we said, let’s speak,” Mbeki stated. “That’s what we explain in the very first letter. We wanted to be able to communicate what we think.”
He acknowledged the media’s “love-hate” relationship with the ANC, suggesting it would be unusual for the media to agree with every letter.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has praised Mbeki and assured him that the renewal of the party has seen the bad potatoes leaving.
Mbalula said Mbeki is one of the best leaders to be produced by the governing party.
“He is a man of such high caliber and he is a sharp intellect. Mbeki has the capacity to cut through complex issues and restoring the dignity of people and the continent at large.”
On contemporary politics Mbalula says the renewal project of the ANC is bearing fruits as those who are corrupt are leaving.
Meanwhile President Cyril Ramaphosa peaking to a crowd in Botshabelo in Bloemfontein, Free State, said he was there because he was told that the Botshabelo community is a big supporter of the African National Congress (ANC).
“I am grateful to see so many of you. I was told this is the ANC headquarters. They said the ANC sleeps here, wakes up here, walks, runs and plays here; here he does all these things,” said the president.
Ramaphosa said the large number of ANC volunteers present at the Thabo VD Chabeli sports ground was an indication that the party will win in the next election.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of MYANC.