What was meant to be a dialogue to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter turned into an Athol Trollip-bashing session at an ANC gathering at the Zwide cemetery yesterday.
Speaking at the event, SACP district chairman and Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Andile Mfunda said it was wrong for the municipality to be led by a white man.
“It is painful when you speak about the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality being led by a white man,” he said.
“I think that was the biggest mistake. I think all of us, our hearts are bleeding.
“We cannot afford a situation where a metro named after an icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, is led by a white man.”
ANC youth league secretary Luyolo Nqakula said it was important for the youth to reflect on the past so they could be reminded what it was they were meant to do.
Nqakula said some of the things the ANC was doing today betrayed where the party came from.
“We must be the first ones to say so. It becomes important so that we can ask for forgiveness from our people,” he said.
“Some of the mistakes we committed have landed us in the position we are in, particularly in this metro.”
Nqakula said some of the actions of the ANC betrayed principles of the Freedom Charter which the guests had come to celebrate.
He said the anniversary of the Freedom Charter should remind them to renew street committees as they were an important aspect of governing.
Those present included the likes of former Bay mayor Ben Fihla and ANC veteran Douglas Tyutyu.
Speakers included members of the Women’s League and the Veterans’ League.
Guests held a wreath-laying ceremony at Heroes Acre in the the cemetery at the graves of Florence Matomela and Govan Mbeki.