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At the launch of his book, ANC Today Letters: Volume 1, Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa, delved into the challenges he faced while in office.
Recalling his experience as deputy president, Mbeki shared that there had been no handover from the previous deputy, leaving them with the "complex" task of discussing and implementing planned programmes, such as RDP, without sufficient resources.
The highly anticipated book was launched at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg on Friday, 26 April. The book is a collection of his famous ANC Today Letters, in which he expressed his opinions on topical matters weekly.
The event drew a diverse crowd, including media representatives, business leaders, ANC members and curious individuals. As the Thabo Mbeki Foundation announced that only 30 copies of the book were available to be signed by the former president, excitement rippled through the audience, with eager readers rushing to secure their copies.
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Mbeki's heartfelt wish, however, went beyond mere sales. He implored attendees to not only purchase the book but truly read it, absorb its insights, and engage with the ideas and experiences shared within its pages.
The launch was attended by Mothobi Mutloatse of Skotaville Academic Publishing, the book's publisher, and Sifiso Mxolisi Ndlovu, the editor, who played a crucial role in bringing this literary work to life.
Mutloatse, speaking about the 732-page book, offered his opinion that Mbeki should consider honing his historical literary skills.
He suggested:
In jest, Mutloatse assigned the 81-year-old Mbeki with writing these books and more, up to volume 7, by the time he turns 90. "He should produce one book a year, but if he wants to be a multi-tasking guru, he could produce two. After all, who can tell African stories besides us?"
Mbeki reflects on starting afresh
When delivering his address at the launch, Mbeki, dressed in a coloured shirt and traditional tie with Ndebele patterns, explained: "This style is called colour blocking." He acknowledged receiving them as a gift from Esther Mahlangu, an artist known for her bold large-scale contemporary paintings that reference her Ndebele heritage.
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Recalling his time in government, Mbeki expressed his belief that everyone understood that every day was a struggle. He described being allocated an office with basic furniture and no supplies, on becoming deputy president.
"There was no handover from a previous deputy president. We were starting afresh. We tried our best," he admitted. "I'm sure there were mistakes we made and wrong things we did."
Mbeki also acknowledged a sense of frustration with media coverage during his tenure. He felt that the story of South Africa's remaking wasn't being told accurately.
This ultimately led to the decision to tell their own stories through the ANC Today letters.
"We had no voice, so we said, let's speak," Mbeki stated. "That's what we explain in the very first letter. We wanted to be able to communicate what we think."
He acknowledged the media's "love-hate" relationship with the ANC, suggesting it would be unusual for the media to agree with every letter.
He emphasised the importance of communication, stating that, during his administration, the spokesperson was only situated in the president's office to ensure effective policy communication.
