Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2007-12-10 Reporter: Deon de Lange

I Still Love Trevor, Says Unfazed Mo

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2007-12-10
Reporter Deon de Lange

Web Link

 www.capetimes.co.za



Mo Shaik, an outspoken supporter of Jacob Zuma, has turned the other cheek after stinging comments made by popular and long-serving Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel.

"No comment. I love Trevor Manuel very much," Shaik said of Manuel's open letter, carried in Sunday newspapers.

Manuel wrote that Shaik was "exceedingly arrogant" for taking it upon himself to propose a "great role" for Manuel in a future Zuma administration.

In an interview with the Mail and Guardian on Friday, Shaik proposed a job for Manuel "in some capacity", provided he had the "flexibility of mind" to adapt to a more implementation-orientated financial policy.

"When you have been part of the macro-economic stabilisation programme, do you have the right mind-set for a period of heightened implementation? Would (Manuel) have the flexibility of mind?" Shaik said in the interview.

Only the day before, however, Zuma had told an international audience there would be no change in economic policy if he became president.

Manuel wrote that Shaik held no leadership position in the ANC and had not even been nominated for one of the 60 positions on the powerful national executive committee, to be elected at the party's conference in Polokwane, Limpopo, from Saturday.

"Your conduct is certainly not something in the tradition of the ANC. It is obvious that you have no intention of becoming part of any elected collective within the organisation, yet you arrogate to yourself the role of determinant," Manuel wrote.

During the struggle, Shaik, as a member of a counter-intelligence unit reporting to Zuma, would warn Manuel, then a leader in the United Democratic Front in Cape Town, about possible moles in his organisation.

If Zuma comes to power in 2009, Shaik is tipped to play a significant role as a member of government or in an advisory capacity *1.

Asked to explain the source of Shaik's apparent influence on Zuma, a source in the Zuma camp said Shaik was not speaking on Zuma's behalf, but simply "giving his view of things based on his knowledge of Zuma".

With acknowledgement to Deon de Lange and Cape Times.


*1       It's scary.

But if all things were equal, Zuma should be inhabiting a correctional centre not of his choice by April 2009.

But things not being equal, an indictment will probably be served in January 2008. Kemp J Kemp will immediately request a delay in commencement by at least 8 to 12 months to study the 93 000 pages of evidence.

During this time there will be a clutch of applications in the High Court to dismiss the charges.

All of the applications will go to the Supreme Court of Appeal and maybe the Constitutional Court. This will take another 12 to 18 months. We now in late 2009 to middle 2010.

The trial will start in late 2010 and take six months. Then there will be the inevitable appeal at taxpayers expense that will take another 18 months.

This is justice?

In the meantime, co-conspirator Thomson-CSF will also be reaping our tax contributions.

Is this justice?