Cde Skizo, I stand to agree with the notion that says the allegations reported on newspapers about cde Shiceka should be invistigated and if there is truth around that necessary steps should be taken , but on Zulunisation of the society is our own opinion & you are protected by the constitution whether there is truth in there i don't know.
On Wed Apr 13th, 2011 9:12 AM EDT Skizo Skizo wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Why Shiceka should STAY ON - at least for now > >Comrades, friends > >Since I was born I have always taken the liberty to air my views on any matter >as I deem appropriate, using any appropriate platform at my disposal, whenever >an opportunity presents itself. My views are not intended to cause harm to or >praise anybody. At all material times I endeavour to be above board and stick >to matters of principle. > >Some of the issues I raise may be considered sensitive. But I, like any other >South African, have the right to formulate an opinion on any matter, in >accordance with the dictates of our Constitution. The Constitution is the >cornerstone of our democracy and guarantor of freedom. In Section 15(1) it >guarantees all of us, South Africans, the right to freedom of conscience, >religion, thought, belief and opinion. Section 16(1) guarantees us the right >to freedom of expression, which includes freedom to receive or impart >information or ideas. These rights are, however, subject to the Limitation >Clause of the Constitution – which is section 16(2). > I therefore wish to encourage anybody interested in debates to engage calmly >and focus solely on substance and avoid resorting to emotive language. As the >Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s correctly said during the 2004 Nelson >Mandela Lecture, “We should not impugn the motives of others but accept the >bona fides of all. If we believe in something, then surely we will be ready to >defend it rationally, hoping to persuade those opposed to change their point >of view... We should not be browbeaten by pontificating decrees from on high. >It should be possible to talk as adults about issues without engaging in >slanging matches." >Comrades, friends and colleagues >A few days ago, our faces froze at the loud newspaper headlines about Minister >Sicelo Shiceka’s alleged corrupt activities. Since then there have been calls >for government to investigate claims that Minister Shiceka improperly used >state money to gallivant the world. These calls should be welcome. But those >calls for the President to simply fire him are politically preposterous and >should be rejected with the contempt they deserve. No minister should be fired >on the basis of newspaper headlines. After all, Honourable Shiceka is not the >only minister to make headlines for wrong reasons. We have plenty of such >ministers; the list is long. The Honourable Shiceka is innocent until proven >otherwise by a competent authority – be it the Office of the Public Protector >or a court of law. Any suggestion to the contrary would not hold water, save >for pure political ends. > >As you would recall, not too long ago the National Police Commissioner was >reported in the media to have improperly influenced the signing of a lease >agreement for new police headquarters. Despite voluminous calls for him to be >fired, he stayed on. Instead, and correctly so, an investigation was initiated >and findings thereof were presented to Cabinet – at least this information is >in the public domain already; I therefore cannot be accused of illegally >disseminating classified information. > >Again, not too long ago, the wife of our Intelligence Minister was arrested on >charges of drug dealing and smuggling. Some quarters of our society called for >the Minister’s head, but he has stayed on to this day. > >The current president, before his ascendancy to the highest office in the >land, was a regular visitor to courts on allegations of corruption. Some >within our society complained so vociferously that he was unfairly charged and >prosecuted through the court of public opinion in order to serve narrow >political ends of some factions within the ruling party. As we all know, the >case was dropped by the NPA because it had been ‘so politically contaminated’ >that continuing with prosecution would not serve the interests of justice. > >Given this set of precedence, it would not only be politically >counter-intuitive but also procedurally and morally reprehensible to simply >fire Honourable Shiceka. Those who aver that he is corrupt must prove and let >the competent authorities to be the final arbiter. If the allegations are >found to be true, then the Honourable Minister must face the consequences. As >the ANC (of which I have been a member for at least 13 years) said following >its NEC lekgotla earlier this year, our criminal justice system must ensure >that those found guilty of corruption are subjected to the harshest of >sentences. Nothing should be taken away from that statement. >Some may argue that because of the gravity of allegations, the Minister should >step down or be fired. They possibly would argue that it is politically >important that the President sends out a clear message that he and his >government will not tolerate corruption. This may be true. But it is also >politically true that the President should not be seen to be purging >particular sections of our society, especially noting that General Cele and >Honourable Cwele – both of whom are of the same ethnic group as the President >- have been allowed to stay on. Any hurried action against Honourable Shiceka >may give credence to the perception of Zulunisation of South African politics >and the concomitant cleansing of the so-called Xhosa nostra. Isn’t that a >politically hot issue as well? > >As Frederick van Zyl Slabbert once cautioned “… politics in South Africa is >not like a computer game where a cyberspace monster munches its way through >all obstacles until it gets to the target”. As he emphasized, “A politician >has to deal with the fears, prejudices, aspirations and ambitions of the >average voter. These are shaped by historical circumstances that give content >to the current dynamics of politics”. > >Ndisatshaya! > > > > > > >-- >You are subscribed. 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