The President of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Mr Letlapa Mphahlele, said that it was incorrect for Justice Minister Bridgette Mabandla to claim that there are no political prisoners as the offences committed by most people range from rape to robbery.

Mphahlele was speaking shortly after his visit at the Sinthumule/Kutama Maximum Prison last Friday to visit his party´s political prisoner, Zweli Absolom Mhlongo. The PAC president said Mabandla had just said what the country´s constitution says.

He said Mabandal’s statement did not only reveal, but also confirmed the weaknesses within the constitution of the country as there is no provision of political prisoners in it.

"Her incorrect statement makes the current situation to be worse than the apartheid era, because we had Robben Island as a security prison where political prisoners were treated differently from the common criminals. As the PAC, we do have political prisoners in jail today and we want the government to release them because what they did was not for self-enrichment," he said.

Mphahlele was in the Vhembe district as part of his party´s programme to interact with the masses through their leadership. On Saturday, he visited Khosi-khulu Vho-Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, Khosi Vho- Manenzhe and attended a Church service at Gaba.

Mphahlele also visited the family of Josias Ratshilumela Madzunya at Tshidzini village. He also lay a wreath at Madzunya´s grave. It was Madzunya, Potlako Leballo, Zeph Mothopeng, Peter Raboroko and others who spearheaded the formation of the PAC in 1958 and elected Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe as their party president.

Mphahlele said that part of his observation during his visit in Vhembe was that there is a hunger for the PAC´s presence at the villages. "We want to take this party to its rightful owners (structures) and the masses. This is not the party that is going to preach and teach without listening to the masses and this will be realised because we have adopted a concept of partnership with all community stakeholders," he said.

On Sunday, at the University of Venda senate chambers, Mphahlele told the provincial youth wing (Payco) and student wing (Pasma) leadership not to use power as a decoration for their homes. He said power should bring about changes in the lives of the people and the country.

In encouraging learners to focus largely on their education, Mphahlele said: "Don´t study to pass exams; study should become an obligation and you must read four books per one month. It is critical reading that can open your mind. Remember, your mind is like a parachute; it does not work until you open it,"

The PAC president also warned his members about the danger of the HI virus. "In peace times, young people bury their parents, but in war times, parents bury their children and that is happening in our country because of Aids. Remember, we must live, before we are politicians," he said.

In reaction to the name change of cities, towns and institutions, the party´s secretary for political affairs, Mudini Maivha, lashed out at the ruling ANC. "Change is inevitable, but the problem of the name change is that the process is owned by one political party as if they were the only ones engaged in the emancipation of the African people and as the PAC we disagree with such claims. Everything they are doing about this issue is very shocking. You don´t have to consult people if a particular person was a hero. It is silly to pretend that Sobukwe never existed. As they run short of names they duplicate if not triplicate names," he said.