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Defiant to Bitter End, Mbeki: 'I Did Not Meddle' |
| Publication |
Business Day |
| Date | 2008-09-22 |
| Reporter |
Karima Brown, Amy Musgrave, Hajra Omarjee |
| Web Link | www.bday.co.za |
In a final swipe at his accusers, President Thabo Mbeki last night
absolved himself and his government of ever interfering in
the work of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the criminal justice
system *1.
Mbeki's comments in his farewell speech to the nation follow the African
National Congress's (ANC's) decision at the weekend to recall him before his
term ended.
"I would like to restate the position of cabinet on the inferences made by the
Honourable Judge Chris Nicholson that the president and cabinet have interfered
in the work of the National Prosecuting Authority.
"Again I would like to state this categorically that we have never done this,
and therefore never compromised the right of the National Prosecuting Authority
to decide whom it wished to prosecute or not to prosecute,"
he said last night.
Mbeki said the same applied to the matter relating to ANC president Jacob Zuma.
"This applies equally to the painful matter relating to the court proceedings
against the president of the ANC, Comrade Jacob Zuma."
Nicholson threw out the state's seven-year corruption and fraud case against
Zuma earlier this month, saying that Zuma should have been given the right to
make representations to the NPA before being charged again.
He also said there was executive meddling in the NPA's case against Zuma, and
his long-held claims of a political conspiracy were not
farfetched.
Nicholson noted a "distressing pattern" of "political
interference, pressure or influence".
"It is a matter of grave concern that this process has taken place in the new
SA, given the ravages it caused under the apartheid order," he said.
Nicholson cited the suspension of NPA boss Vusi Pikoli as an example of
executive meddling. "All that is clear from the constitution, the National
Prosecuting Authority Act and the various prosecution policies, directives and
codes of conduct. The suspension of the national director was a most ominous
move that struck at the core of a crucial state institution," he said in his
judgment.
Mbeki's emphatic denial is in sharp contrast to evidence given by Pikoli in his
version of events, which is the subject of an inquiry. Pikoli argued that he was
suspended by Mbeki because of the NPA's investigation of suspended police chief
Jackie Selebi.
Former National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala, who is heading the inquiry, is
yet to make a finding on the matter.
Last night's address came after much speculation that Mbeki's supporters in the
cabinet would resign in solidarity, but Mbeki made no mention of this. He met
the cabinet earlier in the day.
The 66-year-old Mbeki said on live television that he had handed a letter of
resignation to Mbete yesterday.
The effective date of the resignation would be determined by the National
Assembly.
"I have been a loyal member of the African National Congress for 52 years. I
remain a member of the ANC and therefore respect its decisions. It is for this
reason that I have taken the decision to resign as president of the republic,
following the decision of the national executive committee of the ANC," he said.
Mbeki, who showed no emotion *2, listed the
achievements of the government under his stewardship. These included the longest
period of sustained growth thus far, the empowerment of women, winning the right
to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup and becoming a non-permanent member of the
United Nations Security Council.
However, he also acknowledged the "challenges" facing the country, including
poverty, crime and corruption. "Despite the economic advances we have made, I
would be the first to say that even as we ensured consistent economic growth,
the fruits of these positive results are still to be fully and equitably shared
among our people, hence the abject poverty we still find coexisting side by side
with extraordinary opulence," he said.
Mbeki took the opportunity to thank the many who had sent him messages of
support as well as his colleagues, and heads of state.
Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille described Mbeki's resignation as
"dignified", saying he used the opportunity to spell out the points of his
presidency for which he wished to be remembered.
She said Mbeki demonstrated respect for Nicholson's judgment, even though he had
not been given a chance to state his case in court.
Mbeki's dignified exit *3 gave the country hope
that there would be some continuity in government between now and next year's
election, Zille said.
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With acknowledgements to Karima Brown, Amy Musgrave, Hajra Omarjee and Business Day.