Grace must not be above law
SOUTH Africa is a country full of surprises and disappointments when it comes to upholding “law and order”. The laws appear to be only applicable to ordinary citizens and arrests can come quickly for those breaking the law.
High-profile politically connected people however, are doing exactly what they like because the law appears to be distinctly lax when they are on the wrong side of it.
Our systems of law and order and justice must never be politicised when it comes to upholding law and sentencing transgressors.
Certain individuals like Grace Mugabe who doesn't occupy any official political position should have been arrested a long time ago but is still free due her husband’s status.
Why, if charges of serious assault were laid against her by a South African citizen, were our authorities too afraid to arrest her?
The big question is why did the supposedly “no-nonsense” Minister of Police hesitate in instructing her arrest. Was he thinking of the consequences he might face?
Action – or inaction – speaks louder than words. Nobody is supposed to be above the law in South Africa. The law must always take its course and when it comes to Mrs Mugabe the example of this needs to be set once and for all, irrespective of her status. — Roy D Claasen, East London
Regrettably, recent events have shown that there remains within our movement a significant number who collectively have been unable to grasp what it means to work within a constitutional democracy.
A recent example of the unacceptable approach to our constitutional democracy has been the unprecedented attack on elected members of parliament who have honestly articulated their concerns about the suitability of the President to continue in this position.
Whilst those who openly spoke out against state capture and corruption were in a minority, other ANC MPs also felt unable to vote in favour of the continuation of the President’s term. It is also known that the genuine concern over the state of the ANC and its present leadership is far deeper than was reflected in that specific vote.
The level of personal attacks against those who have a proud history within our movement and know the damage that is being done to our country and the party is unprecedented. It is a reflection of the shallowness of understanding of political engagement and how to build unity in a party that is being torn apart from within.
The undermining of our constitutional democracy is of deep concern. The attacks are already widening with the criticisms of the Chief Whip, Jackson Mthembu, and it is not without any stretch of the imagination that the Speaker of the House will also be a target given the constitutionally rational decision to hold a secret ballot.
The oath all MPs swear and the oath members of the ANC take do not and should not have to be in conflict; they should complement one another as an integral part of the political life of our country.
As stalwarts and veterans we remain committed to working with and within the ANC to ensure that state capture and the associated corruption is eradicated. But we recognise that unless these challenges are confronted those who have no experience of the fight against apartheid and the transformation of our country into a constitutional democracy will not only turn against the ANC but also the policies of our movement. This can only be to the longer term detriment of our country. — The ANC stalwarts and veterans who were signatories to the document “For the Sake of our Future”, via e-mail