Mercifully, there was an Easter long weekend – a break from the exhausting politics of the ANC. Of course along the way we heard that ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and former president Jacob Zuma’s supporters were vowing to shut down the country and that Zuma felt abandoned by the ANC.ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule
Recently, the marathon weekend ANC NEC meeting ran into Monday as the ANC navel-gazed about a simple matter. Should those ANC members charged with criminal offenses step aside from their positions?
Anyone who knew nothing of this matter or didn’t understand the ANC’s tendency towards prevarication and self-interest, would wonder what on earth the debate was about? Common sense and a commitment to ethical governance within any institution would surely mean that someone facing criminal charges should step aside? Central to this is Magashule, who faces corruption charges of corruption, theft, fraud and money laundering.
Magashule has shown little appetite for stepping aside. Instead, he has used all manner of corrupt proxies to drive a wedge between him and Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC President.
Zuma himself has disregarded the constitution and failed to appear before the Zondo Commission, now leaving it to the Constitutional Court to decide on his fate.
Magashule and Zuma have one thing (many things?) in common – their own self-preservation. Both men are prepared to tear down the edifice of the democratic state and its constitution in order to ensure their own survival.
They are shameless populists who threaten war while protesting their innocence. We see them for who they are.
Eventually, the ANC NEC confirmed the following:
‘‘All members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes must step aside within 30 days, failing which they should be suspended in terms of rule 25.7 of the ANC constitution.”
If a week is a long time in politics, the remaining 20 or so days will be a lifetime.
Last week the Political Party Funding Act came into force and effect. It is the subject of the In Focus section this week. It’s been a long time coming and especially sweet for those of us involved in campaigning for transparency in relation to political donations for over two decades. More about that later.
In recent weeks we were also subjected to the poor conduct of Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, who shouted ‘shut up!’ at his colleague, Advocate Michelle Le Roux and over Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the Zondo Commission. All that can be said is that this was disgraceful, unbecoming conduct from an officer of the Court. It is also indicative of the general disrespect pervasive in society. Those who shout the loudest usually are those who are heard in the current milieu.
Adv Mpofu should improve his argument instead of raising his voice. For more:
DAYS OF ZONDO: Fact-checking Dali Mpofu: Michelle le Roux is a recommended silk and SARS has set aside dodgy ‘rogue unit’ report
In sad news, we learned that human rights lawyer and Professor Christof Heyns died while hiking on 28 March 2021. Heyns was director of the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa at the University of Pretoria. He was also Dean of its Law faculty previously. Some wonderful tributes are recorded here:
Christof Heyns would not be held ‘like a drunkard under the cold tap of facts’
Heyns' passing is South Africa’s great loss. He has inspired a future generation of South African human rights lawyers. Our task is to protect and defend the constitution in honour of those like Christof Heyns.
Tags: ANC
