South Africa's MK Vets Accuse Breakaway Party Member of Being Bitter

Kebby Maphatsoe of the ANC military wing's veterans' association. He criticized the people who formed South Africa First., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

MK vets accuse breakaway party member of being bitter

The recent formation of SA First by ANC veterans was because of "sour grapes", says the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association.

30 Apr 2013 12:30 - Genevieve Quintal

Chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe said on Tuesday that some of those who set up the party, SA First, were bitter because they did not make it into the Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) leadership.

"The enemy has intoxicated them with the taste of a nectar of power. They have been intoxicated to sell our revolution to the highest bidder," he told reporters in Johannesburg.

"Today they want to parade with fake credentials to betray the cause of the struggles of our people."

A new political party, SA First, was launched in Johannesburg at the weekend. It is made up of former MKMVA members, activists and civil society organisations.

Maphatsoe said the party was part of continued attempts by "the enemy" to undermine the liberation struggle.

"It is the wider strategy of the Democratic Alliance and the international monopoly capital to use agent provocateurs such as these ones who use their fake credentials to rewrite the history of liberation struggles of our country," he said.

Enemy was imperialism, not opposition

However, MKMVA deputy chair Teenage Monama said the enemy was imperialism, not opposition parties.

Expelled MKMVA member Eddie Mokhoanatse and former member Lucky Twala started SA First.

Mokhoanatse, who was part of a group who took the MKMVA leadership to court, was expelled last year.

"It is important to note that Eddie Mokhoanatse, aka Alex Mashinini, deserted the ANC in the 1980s," Maphatsoe said.

"While he was deployed in the German Democratic Republic he skipped to the Federal Republic of Germany attracted by the shine of good life and bright life, while the rest of comrades stood firm in their posts."

However, when Mokhoanatse returned to South Africa the MKMVA accepted him into its structures.

"[Mokhoanatse] and his fellow travellers have no right to associate the creation of his power hungry imagination with former combatants of the glorious people's army, Umkhonto we Sizwe," Maphatsoe said.

– Sapa