'Do not hide criminal actions behind the reputation of Oliver Tambo or Nelson Mandela'‚ says Tokyo Sexwale

When children write to former president Nelson Mandela‚ commemorating his centenary over the next year and a half‚ businessman Tokyo Sexwale is curious to know what they will say.

“What do you say when you are standing there with this chaos around us? The violent protests‚ parliament breaking up. At Pirates‚ we don't like what we saw. Orlando Pirates is one of the greatest teams in South Africa‚” he said after the team's fans rushed onto the field and stopped play in a match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the weekend.

• Pirates say sorry to fansOrlando Pirates assistant-coach Benson Mhlongo does not blame Bucs' players for their dismal 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday but he has apologised to the fans for the embarrassment. 

Sexwale was speaking at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018 programme at the DOCC Hall‚ now the YMCA‚ in Orlando‚ Soweto‚ on Monday morning. Mandela‚ a boxer‚ trained at this hall in the 1950s.

The programme will honour Mandela's centenary year‚ marking his birth on July 18‚ 1918.

Among the various events and projects planned‚ is the release of a book of letters to Mandela by children from all over the world. They are expected to write about their experiences growing up today. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is calling for entries.

Sexwale said some of today's leaders are giving the children poor writing material. He pointed to the selflessness of leaders like Mandela and former ANC president Oliver Tambo.

“People are stealing. Right from the lowest position to the highest office they are stealing. People are taking from the public pocket.

• Did your fine just disappear? Traffic officials caught hiding paperwork away from City of TshwaneIt is called “dumping” and is carried out by some Tshwane licencing officials who illegally hide vehicle licence penalties and arrears. Now they've been bust by Solly Msimanga‚ the executive mayor - who is vowing they will be punished. 

“Even the devil can quote the Bible. People quote these leaders‚ 'Tambo said‚ Mandela said.' Don't use their names‚ speak your own truth.

“Do not hide your own criminal actions behind the reputation of Oliver Tambo or Nelson Mandela. Nobody should use the names Oliver Tambo or Nelson Mandela to hide the dirtiness of your work.”

Sexwale said that while Mandela was imprisoned Tambo‚ whose centenary is being celebrated this year‚ kept his legacy alive and that the ANC‚ as it was under Tambo‚ should be preserved.

“From 1960 to 1990 the ANC political alliance gave back to us‚ the people. So don't mess up the organisation of these people. Find it‚ the way you get and pass it on‚ the way they gave it.

“Otherwise we will know two ANCs – the ANC of the liberation‚ I am a part of‚ and another one‚ we don't know‚ of the vandals of the principles of some of these leaders we are talking about.”

• Ajay Gupta denies under oath he ever met JonasBusinessman Ajay Gupta has denied under oath ever meeting or speaking to Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas. 

Sexwale said that if the ANC did not reform South Africans have a right to choose their own paths.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation also commemorated 27 years since Madiba was released from prison on Monday.

Launching the centenary programme‚ foundation chief executive Sello Hatang said it was guided by the principles that need to be cultivated in society. Among these he listed integrity‚ passion‚ service and respect.

Some children have already submitted their entries.

“Dear Mandela‚ Sorry you died for me. I have read the Long Walk to Freedom book. I was amazed by your braveness‚” one child wrote.