ANC denies being anti-American

Motlanthe in context 
 
ANC denies being anti-American

      Pretoria

      20 February 2003 17:28

"Simplistic and literal" reporting was to blame for suggestions that the
African National Congress (ANC) was anti-American, the party said on
Thursday.

It sought to dispel conclusions that secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe had
implied South Africa might also become a target if the United States was
allowed to attack Iraq.

The party's explanation was prompted by criticism of Motlanthe's remarks,
which he made during a protest on Wednesday against a US-led war on Iraq.

Motlanthe went "beyond anti-American vitriol and into the realm of support
for (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein", Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip
Douglas Gibson said.

New National Party (NNP) MP Boy Geldenhuys warned that Motlanthe's remarks
could jeopardise South Africa's credibility on the Iraq issue.

The ANC secretary-general told protesters at the US embassy in Pretoria:
"The primary crime of Iraq is the fact that it floats on oil. Because we are
endowed with several rich minerals, if we don't stop this unilateral action
against Iraq today, tomorrow they will come for us."

His remarks came after President Thabo Mbeki rejected the notion in
Parliament this week that the government had given South Africa an
anti-American label.

The ANC, in a statement in Johannesburg, said news reports on Motlanthe's
protest speech amounted to "disinformation".

It added: "What our secretary-general said and meant was, if the United
States can bomb Iraq without sanction of the United Nations, what is to stop
it (America) from bombing any other country?

"He only used South Africa as an example because there has been speculation
that the motive for America's move was to get at Iraq's oil and, if it is
true, then any other country could also be invaded for its mineral
resources, which South Africa has in abundance."

The ANC accused some media and opposition politicians of seeking to create
the impression that its condemnation of US plans to attack Iraq was
tantamount to being anti-America.

"We regret the fact that the media have literally and simplistically
interpreted the (Motlanthe's) speech."

In a morning news briefing in Cape Town, deputy foreign affairs minister
Aziz Pahad stressed South Africa's anti-war stance was not aimed at the US.

He suggested the ANC would have to bring some of its members into line with
the government's policy on the issue.

"I want to believe there is not a major dichotomy on major issues between
government policy and party policy," Pahad said.

But ANC structures should discuss these issues "to try and get an approach
that does not give the impression that while we are anti-war, we are
anti-American".

The ANC said reports on Motlanthe's speech played into the hands of those
wishing to equate anti-war with being anti-American.

South African opposition to a war on Iraq threatened neither the security of
US citizens nor the interests of US investors in the country.

South Africa and the US maintained a strong relationship, which did not
exclude the ANC or the government expressing their views candidly.

Gibson said Mbeki's reassurances on South Africa's sentiments towards the US
were being undermined by senior ANC officials.

"There is a price to pay for each bit of verbal excess. Lose lips sink
ships," he said.

The ANC vowed to stick to its anti-war position.

It added: "We appeal to the United Nations to support our position and help
avert the holocaust that America's intended war would throw the world
into." - Sapa