I hope that all those in government who were in the struggle know that they may as well take as much public money as they want to enrich themselves, as they will escape the justice system having already paid their dues in the struggle.

This is the message coming from several African National Congress (ANC) leaders, leading media members such as Max Du Preez and Tony Weaver, and even former president Nelson Mandela. It is assumed those who fought for liberation did so solely for the cause and not for self-aggrandisement. The struggle purified those who participated in it and any later transgression is an aberration.

The 20th anniversary of the United Democratic Front (UDF) reminded me that as noble as it was, struggle debris was an intrinsic part of that movement. Notwithstanding his contribution, Alan Boesak was part of this debris.

What we witness today is history punishing Boesak for his hubris, depicted so aptly by Zapiro's most recent cartoon (Sunday Times, August 24) Boesak crucifying himself! Finding it difficult to go down graciously, the cleric now wants to take Trevor Manuel and Desmond Tutu, his comrades in arms, with him, the very people who stuck out their necks to protect him when it was wrong to do so.

We all know money did come into SA illegally to back the struggle for a range of noble purposes. Funds were desperately needed for defence trials for detainees, to aid underground operatives, to organise various forms of resistance and to support a range of development initiatives. UDF leaders used the money as they saw fit and it is true much of the money could not, understandably, be accounted for.

However, none of this money was meant for self-enrichment and fraud charges that Boesak was found guilty of. And make no mistake, Boesak did enrich himself. I witnessed it in all its glory.

If ever anyone wanted to prove Boesak innocent at the time, it was the ANC. No one received more support, financial and otherwise, from the struggle than Boesak. Leading ANC members allegedly put up money for his defence and attempts, overt and covert, to influence his case came from struggle luminaries who gave him a hero's welcome at the airport while the nation cringed.

Mojanku Gumbi's report claimed that there was no prima facie evidence against Boesak. As a result, he had one of the best legal teams to date, that subjected every jot and tittle of the charge sheet to forensic scrutiny to prove him innocent. He was still found guilty and sent to jail despite all the support he got. Instead of gratitude he now demands a pardon, as a quid pro quo.

Boesak's tantrums ironically coincide with a string of charges of corruption against Deputy President Jacob Zuma, former minister Mac Maharaj and a looming oil scandal implicating some cabinet members and their spouses. As with Boesak, Mosiuoa Lekota and Tony Yengeni, government's interference has been conspicuous.

The message signalled to our crimeinfested nation is that the ruling elite is above the law. Struggle credentials automatically exonerate and the poor woman in jail for shoplifting a loaf of bread and to feed her children has less of a chance of escaping the penal code than parliamentarians who take bribes and steal public monies to the tune of millions.

Parliamentary agencies such as the standing committee on public accounts, the Scorpions and the ethics committee are dubious at best and have proved incapable of carrying out their work as they are compromised by the political appointees who head them.

Whatever one might think, Bulelani Ngcuka cannot head the Scorpions when his wife is a cabinet minister. The standing public accounts committee chairman should not be a ruling party member. Why appoint a judicial inquiry to investigate Democratic Alliance members and Jurgen Harksen with venomous ferocity, if the national directorate lacks the balls to pursue a prima facie case against Zuma, Maharaj and Schabir Shaik? Loyalty to the party takes precedence over loyalty to justice that is clear.

The double standards are sickening and leave a bad taste.

Kadalie is a Cape town-based human rights activist.

With acknowledgement to Kadalie and the Business Day.