-Caveat Lector- Political lies 'acceptable and not unusual' Kevin O'Grady, AENS and Simphiwe Xako IF US President Bill Clinton can lie, why not the politicians of Mpumalanga? Mpumalanga's new premier Ndaweni Mahlangu believes that a politician lying to the public is not enough to exclude him from holding office. Mahlangu confirmed publicly for the first time yesterday that his reappointed finance MEC Jacques Modipane had privately admitted he lied when he publicly denied signing three illegal promissory notes worth R340m last year. The promissory notes illegally used 32 government game reserves as collateral, and were secretly issued by the Mpumalanga Parks Board without Reserve Bank, treasury or national cabinet approval. When Modipane vehemently denied he knew anything about the deal, Judge Willem Heath's special investigating unit was forced to send the documents for forensic handwriting analysis in both Pretoria and New York before Modipane privately retracted his denial. "He (Modipane) told lies before the election, and the electorate had a choice. The public has spoken," Mahlangu said. Mahlangu insisted politicians all over the world lied about their actions for a range of reasons, including frustration. "It is accepted, and is not unusual anywhere in the world. It wasn't the end of Bill Clinton's life. I personally don't find it to be a very bad thing. Of course, lying is not correct, but it depends on the gravity of the act. I am not giving blanket approval to people to lie, but it needs to be weighed according to the particular circumstances. "I'm not saying it was correct but Modipane was not acting as an individual at the time. He was following instructions and cannot be held personally accountable." "If you want to judge anyone, then judge Modipane's principal. Judge the person who was his principal - the media is wise enough to realise who that was," said Mahlangu. Modipane answered to premier Mathews Phosa at the time. Phosa denied knowledge of the deal, and forced Modipane to resign after appointing Heath to investigate the deal. Democratic Party spokesman Douglas Gibson n said the African National Congress should discipline Mahlangu for encouraging politicians to lie. "For a premier of a province such as Mpumalanga which has been riddled with allegations of corruption to make such a statement is completely absurd and utterly unacceptable." the lowest standards in public life and who have no moral backbone." Mahlangu made these comments during a press conference in Mpumalanga yesterday. The Heath unit announced yesterday that a special tribunal would invalidate the three promissory notes today. President Thabo Mbeki's spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa, said he could not comment as he had not seen Mahlangu's statement. However, government's policy was one of openness and transparency, he said. http://www.bday.co.za/99/0623/news/news4.htm DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
