WATCH: Eight politicians who have ‘Mantashed’ on South Africans

It’s either that South African political leaders always seem to say things without thinking or just don’t know where they stand with matters, especially concerning fellow comrades.

In the past few months, ANC general-secretary Gwede Mantashe had a word named after him – ‘Mantashed’ – referring to how he allegedly always changes his mind about matters in the ruling party.

His latest stunt came after he publicly criticised President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle in March and said it was “unacceptable”. Though his utterances pleased the president’s critics, EFF leader Julius Malema came out and warned South Africans against believing anything Mantashe said. Malema predicted Mantashe would change his mind about the reshuffle, which he did by coming out and wishing the newly appointed ministers and deputies well in their positions.

However, Mantashe is not the only leader to have publicly taken a stance on matters of great political importance, only to change his mind. It seems politics and changing your mind go together like skothanes and Ultra Mel custard.

Below are some of Mzansi’s other “Mantashes”:

Zwelinzima Vavi

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 31: Zwelinzima Vavi addresses the audience at Church Square during the #OccupyTreasury protest on March 31, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. Marchers gathered outside the National Treasury in Pretoria, calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down, following his announcement early on Friday of a dramatic Cabinet reshuffle. Axed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was also present. (Photo by Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)

Vavi was once a staunch supporter of Jacob Zuma, saying in 2006 that Zuma was being treated unfairly by the NPA and the media.

“I want to tell you, comrades, why we think Jacob Zuma is being treated unfairly. It was six years ago that we learned the NPA is investigating him, six years ago. In those six years, the NPA collaborated with  the media to present a one-sided story in the off-the-record briefing in order to mobilise the media against Jacob Zuma, instead of going to the court of law to prove that they have a case against him.

“The day after, they sought to intensify that collaboration with the media to leak information in their possession so that they can launch a media trial against him,” he said at the time.

However, Vavi is not a fan of the president any more, often referring to him as “Zupta”. In fact, he has long been calling for Zuma to step down.

Blade Nzimande

On the same stage in 2006, SACP leader Blade Nzimande said: “As outlined by comrade Zwelinzima Vavi, again we want to repeat that as SACP, if we put you in a position of power you must do your job and not use it for your personal gain. Whether you’re a judge, an attorney, or prosecutor, you need to do your job accordingly. This is why we say Msholozi’s rights are being violated.”

Blade Nzimande. Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Vathiswa Ruselo

Kgalema Motlanthe

Again on the same stage, former president Kgalema Motlanthe said he was there to support “trustworthy” Zuma.

“We are here to support comrade Msholozi because he is a leader we love and trust. We love him because we know and trust him. I have worked with him for more than 31 years.”

Julius Malema

Julius Malema is perhaps one leader who has Mantashed on us the most, having been a supporter of Zuma once, even saying he would kill for him. Malema later said what he meant was that he was prepared to pay the “highest price on earth” to protect Zuma.

“I’m prepared to pay the highest price on earth in defence of Zuma. We are unshaken in terms of our support for Jacob Zuma. We are unshaken, whether this issue is on the front pages or not, we will never shift.”

He also said he would never leave the ANC and start a new party, even after his suspension. His suspension was nothing personal, he claimed, saying he did not have to have “feelings” for Zuma, though that may have changed as he now attacks the president every chance he gets.

“Those of us who committed our lives, including our childhood, to the African National Congress, we have been rejected today. We’re going to fight this political battle, I can tell you today, you must put it on the archives today so when it happens, you can replay it. I’m going to lead the ANC. I will lead this ANC.

“President Jacob Zuma is president of the ANC, I don’t have to have feelings for him, I don’t know what feelings mean. I must have feelings? I can’t, it’s not going to happen. I have no feelings for President Zuma, my relationship with him remains a political relationship and it has got nothing to do with feelings.

“I’m not going to resign, I’m inspired by fearless Mandela and courageous Chris Hani and Peter Mokaba. Suspension for five years is much better than 27 years in jail. I will never resign. There is nothing painful, there is nothing personal, even if I’m on the streets for five years, I’ll come back after five years.

“My blood is is black, green and gold; I will never form a political party.  I will die ANC, I don’t need a card to be ANC.”

EFF leader Julius Malema is pictured during a press briefing in Johannesburg, 08 June 2017, on corruption at Transnet. Picture: Refilwe Modise

Last year before the elections, Malema said the DA and ANC were the same. He then changed his stance and said the DA was worse than the ANC, because it had apparently failed to collect rubbish from black communities. After the elections, the EFF leader then said his party would vote with the DA because it was a better devil than the ANC.

Dr Mamphela Ramphele and the DA once formed a relationship that became the envy of many political leaders – except, it lasted for only five days. Ramphele accepted an invitation from the DA to stand as its presidential candidate for the 2014 elections. She said the decision was in the best interests of South Africans.

Helen Zille

The then DA leader, Helen Zille, said she chose Ramphele because she was “principled.

“I know Mamphela as a principled, fiercely determined person who loves our country very deeply and devotes her life to the cause of making our democracy work and ensure that we become what we have the potential to be. I can think of no better person to be our presidential candidate in this crucial tipping point election than Dr Mamphela Ramphele,” she said.

A week later Helen Zille apparently said: “Dr Mamphela Ramphele has demonstrated once again that she cannot be trusted to see any project through to its conclusion.”

That romance is nowhere to be found till this day.

Andile Mngxitama

Image source: Facebook

When he was still with Malema in the EFF, Mngxitama slated the president for misusing public funds to build Nkandla.

“We find it unacceptable that state resources (are) being used by anyone for their own benefit. Questions must be asked. When the president of the country, together with Cabinet, hide behind security concerns for spending a lot of public money for his own benefit in Nkandla with no consequences whatsoever, questions must be asked,” he said.

And in 2017, he  said the president was being attacked for his tackling of white monopoly capital and the land issue.

“I think President Zuma is a brilliant politician. You have to admire him even if you don’t like him. We started this campaign sometime last year after Johann Rupert came out and said Zuma must go. We said, wait, something is wrong here, we must defend our president. However, we say hands off Zuma, not willy-nilly.

“We say you must do certain things, Zuma, we want land. Zuma has made many mistakes but he’s the first black president to say land must be returned to black people without paying for it.”

Watch the video about all these Mantashing people below: