By Mpho Modiba
POLOKWANE-The annual Peter Mokaba Memorial Lecturer was held at Peter Mokaba Old Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday, June 25.
The family of Peter Mokaba represented by Ernest Mokaba, Mapula Mokaba and the children of Peter Mokaba graced the event. The event started with a visit to the grave of Peter Ramoshoane Mokaba in Mankweng.
The General Secretary of ANC Fikile Mbalula in his address said The ANC is in a renewal process and a step-aside policy will be implemented.
He says Peter Mokaba was a good dancer and did not even drink alcohol.
He says the ANC needs more vibrant cadres like Peter Mokaba to lead its structures because they were loyal to the organisation.
After President Thabo Mbeki excluded Mokaba from his cabinet Mokaba remained disciplined and did not mobilise people to fight on his behalf.
“We wanted to protest, we wanted to do all sorts of things, but Comrade Peter reminded us and convinced us in his house in Wendywood. And he said to us; ‘Comrades, the day you defend me to be in the cabinet, that is the day the revolution will be gone because you’ll be defending Peter Mokaba, not the revolution. The President has made his decision and therefore we must respect the president of the ANC for the decisions he has taken.”
Mbalula says the party will soon release a report about those implicated in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank saga.
“VBS will be closed in the next coming NEC. We have commissioned a big report on it. Cyril Xaba is leading that report. So provinces will have to give us their feedback, how they’ve dealt with VBS how they’ve dealt with people implicated and what is the status quo. When the NEC rise from the seventh of June, we will be able to give you a full picture and feedback on VBS and now we have dealt with it. We have written to all provinces to deal with that matter.”
When it comes to International relations Mbalula reiterated the call by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa that the stance of South Africa towards the war between Russia and Ukraine is to be non-aligned and praised Ramaphosa and the African delegation to meet with the President of both countries to stop the war and start the peace process.
He also raised a big concern about the influx of illegal immigrants who flood into the country to commit crimes and said that Europe and USA should lift sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Ernest Mokaba representing the Mokaba family said that young people should fight to be owners of means of production. According to Ernest Mokaba, young people should be creators of jobs and own companies because when Peter Mokaba fought for freedom so that young people can own means of production.
