Former president Thabo Mbeki and his family have distanced themselves from all things ANC, his cousin and DA mayoral candidate in Mnquma Local Municipality, Madoda Mbeki, told News24 on Friday.

“Not only the Mbeki family but AmaZizi clan are not happy, they are no longer in one kraal with the ANC,” Madoda said.

DA mayoral candidates Madoda, ANC stalwart Steve Tshwete’s son Linda and Ghaleb Cachalia, the son of struggle icons Amina and Yusuf, held a media briefing condemning President Jacob Zuma’s “racial” campaign.

The three men who come from prominent families in the ANC said they have the full support of their families as DA members. Linda broke down in tears as he relayed how he and his brother Mayihlome and stepmother deputy minister of water and sanitation Pam’s relationship became strained after he joined the DA.

He said his entire family, except for the two, fully supported him when he joined the DA.

“…the Tshwete clan, except for Mayihlome and Pam, supported me. They even travelled to Cape Town and 14 of them joined the DA. I must say the mood has changed. They have seen I have made a decision.”

Madoda said he saw the cracks in the ANC when the party recalled Mbeki in 2008.

Different values, principles

“Immediately after Polokwane and the recalling of my brother I started looking at the ANC differently. Too many things happened and I believe getting into the DA was a wise decision… It will be my political home forever.”

Cachalia said the ANC has changed its values and principles.

He said, “The idea of open society is now a target of criticism by the ANC because it has become associated with the DA.”

He said part of the 1994 ANC manifesto pledged an open society. He said the ANC cynically exploits racial lines for political gain. “It has failed to take action against Jimmy Manyi or Fikile Mbalula for their racial remarks over the years such as the infamous comments about the overconcentration of coloureds at the Western Cape as well as Mbalula’s dog whistle when he called University of KwaZulu-Natal ‘little Bombay’,” he said.

The three men accused Zuma of mobilising South Africans to vote along racial lines.

“The ANC that fought for our freedom is now a party desperate to distract South Africans from the fact that they’ve failed to create jobs and build on the progress Madiba started,” Linda told journalists.

Thabo Mbeki’s spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga had not responded to requests for comment by Saturday morning.