In November, Mantashe called De Ruyter a “policeman” who did not have what it took to run Eskom. Photo: Picture: Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams
Former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Adam Habib said Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe is post-apartheid South Africa’s most destructive politician, after former president Jacob Zuma and suspended African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Ace Magashule.
Habib, who is now the Director of SOAS University of London, shared the comments on Twitter as the ANC entered the second day of its 55th elective conference and the country continued to suffer relentless load shedding.
Eskom was left in state of disarray this week following the resignation of CEO André de Ruyter.
De Ruyter’s resignation came a week after Mantashe publicly accused Eskom’s management of “agitating for the overthrow of the state”.
De Ruyter on Thursday pointed to “recent media reports” as among the reasons for him not to be able to continue his tenure.
In November, Mantashe called De Ruyter a “policeman” who did not have what it took to run the utility.
Habib said Mantashe is a “destructive” politician.
“Mantashe is post-apartheid SA’s most destructive politician after Zuma and Ace! I have always held that privatisation in South Africa will deepen inequality. While I still believe this, I also hold that South Africa’s option now is bet. No power or privatised power. This is the consequence of ANC rule.”
ALSO READ: Eskom agitates for ‘overthrow of the state’ by not dealing with load shedding – Mantashe
Habib also took a swipe at the ANC as it holds its national elective conference at Nasrec, saying the country is better off without the governing party.
“South Africa’s political elite meet in Johannesburg for the next few days. It is an incredible indictment on the ANC that if by some miracle, they all disappeared from existence, South Africa as a country, poor and rich, black and white, would be better off. Our collective curse is our politicians!”
A few social media users agreed with Habib.
Wela Msimanga wrote: “There’s nothing remotely elitist about the 4 500 ANC branch delegates that have gathered at Nasrec to hold their own leaders to account. Anyway, why do you seem to have a problem with South Africans exercising their section 19 rights?”
Phila Bongani said politicians are to blame for the country’s excruciating pain.
“Politicians have deceived and betrayed the public for decades by making promises to get votes, then refusing to fight for these promises when they have power. The cycle keeps repeating because of a rhetoric mind thinking it’s our curse, [rather] than holding party politicians accountable,” she tweeted.
ALSO READ: #ANC55: Ramaphosa to remain at helm
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