adminJohannesburg — A diplomatic row is brewing after ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe accused a Swede of fuelling the Marikana crisis and “destabilising” the country. Diplomatic sources told the Sunday Independent that Sweden has protested against Mantashe’s comments made two weeks ago.
According to the newspaper, security departments, including Home Affairs and intelligence services, are investigating the immigration status of Swedish national Liv Shange, who is married to South African Xolani Shange.
Liv Shange is one of the leaders of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), an internationally linked leftist organisation, and the Workers and Socialist Party (Wasp). She has allegedly been at the forefront of organising striking mineworkers in North West and Gauteng.
Mantashe blamed recent problems at the platinum mines on foreign nationals and particularly singled out the Swedes and the Irish. Mantashe told the newspaper on Saturday that he was not aware of any diplomatic protest. — Sapa
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo