Issued by African National Congress
15 February 2000
The African National Congress is pleased to announce that the long- standing tension between Mpumalanga Premier, comrade Ndaweni Mahlangu and his predecessor, Comrade Matthew Phosa, is now a thing of the past.
The two comrades reached an amicable resolution of their differences at a meeting presided over by our organisation's Secretary General, Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe on Saturday. The meeting was a culmination of an ongoing process of consultation between the two comrades and the ANC leadership represented by the Secretary General.
Following the agreement between the two comrades to put their differences behind them, Comrade Phosa agreed to withdraw the defamation case that he had instituted against Comrade Mahlangu.The legal wrangle started when Comrade Phosa sued Comrade Mahlangu for over R1- million in defamation damages after Cde Mahlangu implicated him in corruption.
The African National Congress takes full responsibility for allowing, by commission or omission, relations between the two comrades to deteriorate.Contradictions between comrades are non-antagonistic and could have never been irreconcilable. The delay in their resolution is, therefore regretted.
The meeting was called for the leadership to closely study the matter and consult with the two comrades over its complexity and the effect their continued misunderstanding could have on the organization, which was a matter of great concern for all the parties involved.
The resolution of this problem brings great joy and relief for the ANC because these two stalwarts of our organization, whose contribution to its work was immeasurable. They can now work together harmoniously to build and further strenghthen our structures in their province.
We appeal to all our comrades who might be having some personal or political differences to follow in their footsteps and seek amicable solutions to their problems. Comrades Mahlangu and Phosa will go down in history as two leaders who took the right decision at the right time. We salute them for their courage.
For more info, contact Nomfanelo Kota - Mayosi at 082 - 570 - 5072 or Nat Serache at 082-981-5965
Issued by the Head of the Presidency: Smuts Ngonyama Head of the Presidency and Communications 51 Plein Street Johannesburg