Response to Politicsweb article
On Monday 18 February 2010 a story appeared on Politicsweb concerning the identity of the company that registered the website of Dr Mamphela Ramphele's new Agang political organisation. This company is called "Great Potential for South Africa". The directors of the company are listed as Dr Ramphele, Mr Moeletsi Mbeki, Mr Prince Mashele and Mr Brutus Malada.
Messrs Mashele and Malada are members of the Midrand Group. The Midrand Group has on several occasions in the past stated that it is not aligned to any political formation, nor will it be in the future. As a result its members can only take up party political membership if they formally resign from the Group. This story potentially could raise doubts about the veracity of the Midrand Group's stated position.
The two gentlemen have confirmed that they were indeed directors of Great Potential for South Africa but they both resigned in January. Their directorship of the said company emanated specifically from their place of employment, the Forum for Public Dialogue (FPD), a research organisation whose board is chaired by Mr Moeletsi Mbeki. Malada is still employed as a Senior Researcher by FPD while Mashele resigned from FPD at the same time as he resigned his directorship of Great Potential for South Africa.
The conditions of membership in the Midrand Group preclude its members from being members of any political party that is registered either in South Africa or elsewhere. They are therefore required to resign from the Midrand Group immediately upon joining such a political party. They are however free to be members of any other civic structure including trades union, civic organisations, NGOs, community-based organisations and so on.
At no point did the Midrand Group have any contact or relationship with Dr Ramphele either under the banner of the Citizens Movement or Agang. There is also no relationship between the Midrand Group and FPD, the organisation in which Messrs Malada and Mashele were and are employed respectively, in the same way that there is no relationship between the Midrand Group and the employers of the Midrand Group's other members. As they are no longer involved in any way with Great Potential for South Africa, the matter of their resignation from the Midrand Group did not arise at the time Dr Ramphele formed Agang.
Active membership of any political structure, we believe, has the potential to compromise the intellectual freedom and independence of the Midrand Group and its members. As an organisation that encourages its members to think and speak freely on the affairs of our republic, party political membership would be detrimental to this objective.
We also wish to reiterate that any contributions made by members of the Midrand Group to public discourse are their individual views, and never those of the organisation. While we robustly discuss various matters of public and intellectual interest, it is not in the nature of the Midrand Group to take formal resolutions or adopt a position in favour of ora against any intellectual, political or social view. True intellectual freedom can only be realised when each person owns their views and is free to insist upon them despite the views of their colleagues in the group.
In a matter of weeks the Midrand Group shall make a formal announcement concerning the role it will play in the future. This will be as a unique public think tank that provides a platform to a greater number of young South Africans from all walks of life to generate ideas on tackling pressing political and social challenges, and propose practical solutions. Our existence is pivoted on deepening the quality of our democracy and advancing South Africa's progress.
Membership of political formations shall continue to be a disqualifying criterion. It will however engage formally with diverse interest groups, think-tanks, and political parties to exchange ideas. At all times, these public engagements shall be made public through its website and other forms of media communication.
The intersection between civil society and political advocacy is a space that has long been neglected as an avenue for grappling with South Africa's challenges. It is at this level that we see ourselves making a contribution. The Midrand Group has chosen to be a platform where individuals can freely develop and share their views with the South African public without fear or favour. It is also here that we believe an alternative paradigm for a better society can be envisioned.
Any inquiries concerning Great Potential for South Africa, FPD or Agang must therefore be directed at the individuals responsible for those organisations, or otherwise mentioned in the Politicsweb article. The Midrand Group is unable to answer on their behalf as it never took a decision to associate with any of them.
Issued by the Midrand Group, February 19 2013
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