It has become an all too depressing story: some bigwig politicians or their VIP protectors who mouth platitudes about being servants of the people around election time but really have egos the size of China, drive in a screaming cavalcade of cars to a very important lunch date or a drinks date with a gilrfriend, [...]
Posts under ‘Kgalema Motlanthe’
Why Ginwala and Motlanthe are dead wrong
After re-reading Frene Ginwala’s report, it is quite clear to me that in her haste to protect the then Minister of Justice and the then President, she wrote a report riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions. The President then decided to fire Pikoli and in doing so, may have misconstrued his powers in terms of the [...]
National security, the last refuge of scoundrels?
At the heart of the Ginwala Commission of Enquiry Report and the decision by President Kgalema Motlanthe to recommend the removal from office of Vusi Pikoli, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, is a rather troubling interpretation of what is required to safeguard the constitutionally protected independence of the NPA.
The Report correctly points out that [...]
Should Pikoli be re-instated pronto?
If a news report in today’s Mail & Guardian is correct, Vusi Pikoli should immediately be re-instated as National Director of Public Prosecutions. According to the Mail & Guardian the confidential report of the Ginwala commission clears former president Thabo Mbeki of an abuse of executive power, while at the same time exonerating Pikoli. Apparently [...]
Don’t hold your breath for an arms deal commission of inquiry
A joint letter signed by Nobel Peace laureates Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk has been delivered to President Kgalema Motlanthe’s office on 2 December 2008, urgently requesting that he institutes an independent and public judicial commission of inquiry into the arms deal. The letter argues that:
the widest possible investigation into impropriety and corruption is [...]
Kgalema Motlanthe, HIV/AIDS and the ANC
The Presidency of Thabo Mbeki was in many ways an utter disaster. Insecure, angry, vindictive and far too sure of his own ability to know everything and be the cleverest person in the room, Mbeki acted in ways that had devastating effects on especially poor and black South Africans. This was never more evident than [...]
Who will replace Judge Madala?
The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is currently interviewing candidates to fill the post of Justice Tholie Madala on the Constitutional Court. Business Day reports this morning that two of the six judges who are candidates for appointment to the Constitutional Court — Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Chris Jafta and Grahamstown High Court Judge Frank [...]
Lekota’s announcement: what now?
The announcement by Mosioua Lekota this morning that he will call a convention to form a new political party that will contest the election next year is obviously going to shake up South Africa’s politics. Lekota’s statement suggests that the new party will try and position itself as the “true” ANC while painting Jacob Zuma [...]
Motlanthe an inspired (election) choice?
In the absence of credible opinion polls (as opposed to the incredibly misleading opinion poll published in the Sunday Crimes last Sunday ) only a fool would confidently make a prediction about next years general election results. In the previous election some analysts predicted that the ANC would lose support and that the DA would [...]
