By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The outspoken politician and activist Carl Niehaus was the guest on Laataand by Rian on Tuesday night – and even Rian van Heerden was shocked at times. Carl spoke candidly about what happened in his past and also what his plans are for the future.
Carl has been in politics for 43 years and has held several positions. He was the spokesperson for former president Nelson Mandela and at one point also the national spokesperson for the ANC. But now he is the leader of his own party, the African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (Areta).
Numerous publications have reported on Carl who committed fraud while he was part of the ANC, but he stands firm and says it’s all just lies: “I had financial problems, I had debts, I made mistakes because at one point in my life I lived beyond my means. In politics you are not forgiven for that misstep.”
Rian wanted to hear from Carl what his autobiography was about, and he then asked Carl what he knows about the ANC that no one else knows. Carl didn’t hesitate to answer: “I know a lot. I know of people who were spies for the old apartheid regime, but also for the Western intelligence services. I know of people who sold other people out. There are many people who have taken money, to the highest level in the party.”
When it came to former president Jacob Zuma, Carl shared his history with Zuma and Rian was surprised. Carl was imprisoned for almost nine years for treason against South Africa’s previous government. When the ANC was unbanned, they wanted to release everyone from prison, except for Carl. “Zuma came to see me every second week, and he came back once and said he had persuaded Oliver Tambo and the ANC’s national executive committee and given them an ultimatum: Either they release me or they stop the negotiations – and within a week I was released,” says Carl.
Rian and Carl had a vigorous debate about whether radical economic transformation will work in South Africa. Rian’s opinion is that South Africa does not have the necessary expertise, but Carl sticks to his argument that radical economic transformation is the best way forward.
The full episode is available on Catch Up, and you can also watch it on DStv Stream.
Rian’s next guest is the controversial, tattooed musician from the Moot in Pretoria, Angie Oeh. Rian and Angie talk about her battle with cancer and how her music makes conservatives uncomfortable.
Laataand by Rian airs Tuesdays at 21:00 on kykNET (DStv Channel 144).