ANC’s criticism of judges irrational – Netshitenzhe
Leaders are ill-informed, says loyalist
RESPECTED ANC national executive committee member Joel Netshitenzhe has spoken against fellow party leaders who have called for the judiciary to be reined-in following damning court rulings against government.
Speaking at the provincial congress of the ANC in the Northern Cape in Colesberg‚ Netshitenzhe said such leaders were talking from illinformed positions and should be reminded that the disbursal of power to the different arms of state was a deliberate revolutionary act on the part of the ANC.
Netshitenzhe suggested that their actions and utterances were irrational and appeared to be borne out of irritation.
“The approach to reconciliation was a deliberate revolutionary act on the part of the ANC because of the balance of forces.
“These days when we are irritated by what the Constitutional Court says‚ we complain that the disbursal of power [to various arms of state] was a compromise and it must go. Those who argue so are wrong‚” Netshitenzhe said.
Netshitenzhe’s rebuke comes after President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday announced he had filed an application for leave to appeal the decision of the North Gauteng High Court ordering Zuma to submit the record and reasons of the cabinet reshuffle of March 31.
Zuma‚ laying the ground for his appeal‚ said Judge Bashier Vally should have found that executive decisions did not fall within the ambit of Rule 53 adding that the DA was not entitled to the record of decision.
Netshitenzhe‚ outlining the strategy and tactics document‚ lashed the ANC for claiming to be the strategic centre of power while it frequently expressed surprise at the actions of its deployees in government and state-owned companies‚ such as the return of Brian Molefe to Eskom.
The Eskom board confirmed that Molefe had returned to the helm of the power utility after Minister of Public Enterprises Lynn Brown rejected Eskom’s decision to pay out R30-million to Molefe for his service (see report on page 12)
Netshitenzhe said the ANC was “disappointed and angered” by the decision‚ showed it had lost its DNA.
“A strategic centre cannot allow itself to go on a frolic of its own. A strategic centre cannot be surprised at what its deployed cadres do. — TMG