Anglo American seeks peace with Mbeki

LONDON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Leaders of South Africa's largest mining company want to meet with the nation's president to smooth relations after he criticized remarks by the firm's head.

Anglo American's chief executive, Tony Trahar, said investments in South Africa still carried some risk provoked President Thabo Mbeki to rip the company as racist and manipulative, the BBC reported Monday.

Trahar's remarks, published over the weekend in a British publication, also included the statement that the political risk of investing in South Africa was declining.

Still, Mbeki was furious at the London-based company.

"The poor and marginalized who worked for Anglo American and other companies for a pittance and built them up during the years of minority rule are today's voters," Mbeki said.

"For 10 years (Anglo American's black workers) made it clear that they care too much for the future of their children to have the past and its instincts determine that future.

"They chose reconciliation rather than revenge. Do they deserve to be seen as a political risk?"

Trahar's aides were seeking to talk with Mbeki about his remarks.

Tony Leon, leader of the largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said Mbeki had overreacted and deliberately misrepresented Trahar's comments.