City commemorates the life of Peter Mokaba
The celebration was held in Mankweng on Sunday, where Mokaba was bred.
POLOKWANE – Peter Mokaba in his leadership did not prioritise stomach politics and laziness over the liberation movement and service delivery and that should remain paramount in the run-up to the upcoming election among ANC comrades.
This the view of the ANC regional chairperson John Mpe, who shared his perspective with celebrants of the stalwart whom the monumental stadium and sports precinct are named after in Polokwane.
Mpe’s region was also named after Mokaba.
Mokaba was a minister and member of parliament and reportedly passed on from a pneumonia related illness.
Mpe spoke in reference to what he termed a challenge facing the party in the region, where members demand to be appointed in executive positions but prove lazy over time and lack in service delivery.
He spoke at the 65th birthday anniversary of the much celebrated and first to be unbanned youth league leader, known for his unwavering call for unity in the party, even in his dying days in 2002.
The celebration was held in Mankweng on Sunday, where Mokaba was bred.
Mokaba’s niece, Kgothatso addressed the event on her mother Mapula’s behalf, also mentioning a “lack of unity in the ANC”.
Mapula Mokaba has held the positions of MEC for agriculture and safety respectively, among other political positions under the ruling party.
“Comrade Peter did not fight for power or personal glory. He never lied in the faces of our masses. Let’s use this day to reflect and go back to the basics,” her speech read.
Regional executives serving as mayors in Blouberg and Molemole, Maria Thamaga and Mashilo Paya were among those who gave rise to the call in their addresses.
Commenting on division in the party, Mpe made reference to former President Jacob Zuma’s decision to join the formation and use of Umkhonto we Sizwe as a political party and termed it an act Mokaba would not have tolerated.
“It is with a view that the name belongs to the ANC. Umkhonto we Sizwe belongs to the ANC. You are trying to confuse South Africans from knowing which ANC is in fact real,” he remarked.
