Bheki Cele speaks out against disrespectful social media comments on Nathi Mthethwa's death
ANC leader Bheki Cele at the funeral of the late Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. Cele has criticised some of the comments made on social media after Mthethwa's death.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
ANC leader Bheki Cele has taken the public to task over how it reacted to the death of the former Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa. Cele said the engagements on social media indicate that South Africans are devoid of “humanity and conscience.”
He was speaking at the memorial service in Durban last week.
Mthethwa died in France more than a week ago; his body returned to the country last week. Mthethwa was laid to rest in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.
Mthethwa’s name has been mentioned several times in the Ad Hoc Committee investigating the infiltration of police by criminal activity. The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mthethwa mentioned Nathi Mthethwa in two incidents: one was the alleged interference in a police investigation, and the second was that a perimeter wall at Mthethwa’s house was built with money stolen from the police crime intelligence budget.
Cele said the celebration that greeted the death of the ambassador leads him to conclude that South Africans have become “akin to animals and should face God's wrath.” He added that South Africans are now like Sodom and Gomorrah and should have the same fate as those evil cities referenced in the Bible.
“If I could pray, I would ask God to punish us. You have lost respect for humanity; you have become like animals. At no stage can you mock death; you must be respectful during that period until after the funeral. You can come back (with your disrespect) at another time,” he said.
“Pastors, can you go up the mountain and ask God to do what He did to Sodom and Gomorrah? You are Sodom and Gomorrah; you have been heartless, with no conscience; you are like animals.
“I believe that God has turned his back on South Africans and taken away our conscience. I have never seen a situation where death was mocked; even the most evil people respect death. But South Africans, we are just a lost nation; I don't care who said what.”
Cele lamented that there are all these commissions and ad hoc committees, but beyond that, people on social media are crazy. “Even if you have had a dispute with that person, you should consider their family.
“Let’s go and lay Nathi to rest; let’s stay out of social media. Those who are talking, close your ears and stay out of social media; it can break your heart. We will look at it after Sunday, but for now, Mthethwa family, you must hold your heads high.”
Cele also spoke about Mthethwa’s death, stating, “This is my position, not the position of the ANC. I don’t believe all that has been said about Nathi. I don’t believe all that is said to have happened in France.
“First of all, this is my environment; secondly, they are saying many things that are hard to follow. It cannot be that a person dies, and in 12 hours, you have determined that the person has killed themselves; it just can’t happen. These are my positions, not those of the ANC.”
ANC member Nondu Cele said the attacks on social media directed at the former ambassador and the ANC should not be allowed to stand. “We ask comrades to go into social media and celebrate the life of the former ambassador, where his name is being dragged through the mud. We should go there and defend his good name.”
Cultural expert Professor Musa Xulu agreed with Bheki Cele, saying he was right about the sometimes very careless social media comments following the passing of ambassador Mthethwa.
“Some comments by individuals, especially on Facebook, were shocking, as some sought to celebrate Mthethwa’s demise. A decolonised African Ubuntu mindset knows that any death, even that of a witch, is respected and even feared. However, it is becoming a trend for some South Africans to hate anyone who is prominent, especially if they have liberation struggle credentials.
“Culturally, any death is respected. People, even if they are not part of the mourning family, become very empathetic with the dead and the living, as they see death as an opportunity for self-reflection. It is also a moment when the dead, the living, and the not-yet-born are united in spirit, as one. This is always supported by relevant songs,” he said.