Panafrican News Agency

South Africa's ruling party slams Trump

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has joined the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s alleged racial slurs about Africa and its leaders.

As previously reported by PANA, the claims were made by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen who has released a book claiming Trump disparaged the Nobel Laureate and other African leaders.

“Mandela f---ed the whole country up. Now it's a s---hole. F--- Mandela. He was no leader. Tell me one country run by a black person that isn't a s---hole. They are all complete f---ing toilets,” Trump is quoted on saying in the book which was released on Tuesday.

Cohen, who previously served as a personal attorney for Trump, alleges in Disloyal: A Memoir that Trump had a "low opinion of all black folks”.

The ANC has described Trump as the most “divisive, misogynistic and disrespectful person” ever to occupy the Oval Office.

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said all freedom-loving people of the world are appalled by these insults which come from a person who, himself, is not a model of competent leadership.

Mabe added Mandela stood in stark contrast to Trump.

"A unifying and principled leader, President Mandela reached out to the world and sought to bring peace and a just society. President Mandela also believed in good trade and sound diplomatic relations. He forged a strong friendship with President Bill Clinton, interacted with political leaders across the political spectrum and never let go of his principles for pragmatic short-term goals,” he said.

On Monday, Mandela's foundation said it did not believe leaders who conducted themselves in the way Trump did were "in a position to offer authoritative commentary on the life and work of Madiba (Mandela’s clan name)”.

-0- PANA CU/AR 9Sept2020