SOME forces and agents of the old order masquerading within the ranks of our democratic movement and as well as across the body politic consistently fail to hide their historic, grotesque mission of wanting to destroy the one-time ANC director of information and publicity and former President, Thabo Mbeki.

These episodes of destructive utterances have always been devoid of politics.

Whilst this might be of great benefit to some nihilists and anarchists, there appears to be no justification why other leaders (government and otherwise) have escaped this new-found popular criticism. For truth be told, Mbeki has done our own revolution and liberation struggle more than proud.

He had never found any justification for not participating in the struggle even at times when that was associable with death. None among this new generation of aspirant leaders now gloating from ululations from the quarters of the arch-rivals of our noble revolution will surpass that mileage.

He has never sold out our struggle and our oppressed impoverished people, nor did he hibernate in any corner when we men and women of honour stood up to lead us out of the quagmire of apartheid and oppression.

It may be fashionable to scavenge his political carcass but time will tell. These demagogues will be exposed for who they are.

The national problems Mbeki is being crucified for are not the new discoveries of 1999 to 2008. They come from way back.

Then why isolate Mbeki? From these new populists hell-bent on their “crusade of joy” none has been able to demonstrate how the Mbeki administration strayed from ANC policies and resolutions, and undertook a regrettable journey not mandated by our democratic movement.

All that I know is many more people (including myself) owe both the ANC and Mbeki sincere principled gratitude.