Mandela denies contribution to president's book

Madiba denies describing Congo president as 'great African leader'

Oct 21, 2009 12:22 AM | By NKOSANA LEKOTJOLO

The president of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, has published a book with a flattering foreword supposedly written by Nelson Mandela.

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Denis Sassou-Nguesso

I recognise a man who ... worked tirelessly to free oppressed peoples from their chains and help restore their dignity and hope

Mandela at grandson’s graduation

Trouble is, Madiba did not pen the glowing tribute; nor has he set eyes on the book.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation said yesterday that it was considering legal action after it emerged that Sassou-Nguesso's semi-autobiographical book, Straight Speaking for Africa, featured "false" quotes attributed to Mandela.

The foundation said yesterday Mandela had not read the book, let alone written the introductory note in which he purportedly describes the president - who was appointed 30 years ago after his predecessor was ousted in a technical coup - as "one of our great Afri-can leaders".

The 260-page book was published last month.

But Mandela - who has written the introductory notes to books by Judge Edwin Cameron, former transport minister Mac Maharaj, and even Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan - stopped accepting requests to write book forewords a year ago.

"The foundation's lawyers are already looking into the matter and considering what action to take. We take the matter very seriously and we can confirm that Mandela did not write the foreword or even read the book," said the foundation's information manager, Sello Hatang.

The foreword of the book, which is not yet available in South Africa, reads: "In President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, I [Mandela] recognise a man who is not only one of our great African leaders but also one of those who gave their unconditional support to our fighters' demand for freedom, and who worked tirelessly to free oppressed peoples from their chains and help restore their dignity and hope."

A former soldier, Sassou-Nguesso, 66, has ruled oil-rich Congo-Brazzaville for most of the past three decades.

After being appointed president in 1979, he headed a single-party regime until he lost an election in 1992, but returned to the presidency in 1997 after a civil war.

He was re-elected in 2002 in a vote that international observers said fell short of democratic standards.

Sassou-Nguesso was again re-elected president in July this year amid allegations of fraud related to the voters' roll.

During Mandela's presidency, South Africa and Congo-Brazzaville (also known as the Republic of Congo) mediated in peace talks with the central African state's neighbour, the war-torn DRC.

A preview of the book says Sassou-Nguesso "details his perspectives on his long engagement in leading his country in the post-colonial era and his role in the liberation of Southern Africa".

Hatang said the foundation had in the past tracked a number of quotes attributed to Mandela, which were not his - but this was the most high-profile publication to feature falsified quotes.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has managed the former president's affairs since his retirement in 2004, including monitoring the use of the Mandela name via Internet alerts.

The foundation discovered the dodgy foreword in the book, published by Michel Lafon and Africa World Press, on Monday.

The department of international relations and co-operation is investigating.

Spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota said: "The South African mission in the Republic of Congo is aware of the matter and is looking into it."

Comments

Oct 21 2009 02:07:05 AM
jsavo

Holy Moly!
We have something going on here! ...y' all heere!!!

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Oct 21 2009 05:51:59 AM
Garrio

Another shining example of the ethics and integrity of the class called the African politician. Born to swindle and to defraud.

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Oct 21 2009 06:02:48 AM
sthwimb

How dumb must you be to do something like this? Did this eejit really think no-one would pick up on this? You chose one of the most famous politicians of our time and expect no-one will notice.... Riiight.

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Oct 21 2009 06:58:43 AM
august rain

//So who is lying? Politicians lie all the time and so the Jury is out on this one.

//Congo is stealing our farmers.

Congo has made land available for landless white farmers as it sets to take advantage of South Africans who will become landless due to '"land reform"
Johannesburg - South Africa has signed a deal with the Republic of Congo that will give South African farmers access to up to 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres) of farmland, the country's biggest farmers' union said on Tuesday.

The deal, potentially one of the largest land agreements on the continent and part of Congo's plan to improve food security, will allow South African farmers to lease land for maize, soy beans, poultry and dairy cattle among other produce.

"It's 10 million hectares of under-utilised land that have been made avaliable to us," Theo de Jager, deputy president of union Agri SA, told Reuters. "We have signed the agreement and it's initially for a 30-year renewable lease."

De Jager said the South African deal included tax exemptions on importing agricultural inputs and equipment and full expatriation of profits.

Some 200 000 hectares of state farms would be immediately available for South African farmers, De Jager said, but added: "It's not limited to those farms...There's no limit on the land you can get (up to 10 million ha)...it's whatever you need in terms of your business plan."

De Jager said about 1 700 South African farmers had enquired about farming in the Congo.

The future for the Boers is NOT in South Africa
I see a New Great Trek to Congo.

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Oct 21 2009 07:18:11 AM
ThembaM

I'll bet you some grandson, grand daughter or niece had something to do with this.

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Oct 21 2009 07:56:50 AM
Loggenberg

What`s new, every ANC member is use to denials, and the big "Kokedoor" of this clan(Mandela) is proving to us that thats how they taught all ANC members like Chuene(Caster`s genders tests), Blade(the plastic bag containing 500 000), Selebi(having corrupt relationships with Agglioti), Winnie(Killing Stompie), the list is endless.

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Oct 21 2009 08:03:45 AM
Iamgone

Oct 21 2009 06:58:43 AM
august rain
----------------
This is not new. Nigeria and Zambia also offered land to South African farmers. In return, their Gov offers protection for them.

They know what is important to them and their people. They are capitalising on SA's bad governance.

It seems like most African countries are on the way up and SA is going in the opposite direction. Very sad state of affairs.