ANC rebukes judge for ‘ethical’ speech

Mantashe critical of Mogoeng’s behaviour

THE ANC has criticised Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng for commenting on the Constitutional Court judgment outside the recent official ruling he handed down on Nkandla.

ANC secretary- general Gwede Mantashe yesterday rebuked Mogoeng for his recent comments that were seen to be related to the judgement which found President Jacob Zuma failed to defend and respect the constitution.

The ruling has become a hot potato for the ANC, prompting significant sections of the party to call on Zuma to resign.

Mogoeng delivered a lecture on ethical leadership in Joburg, where he made comments that appeared to refer to the recent case against Zuma.

“If ever there was a time to embrace ethical leadership, stop spinning, stop manipulating, stop relying on supporters or sympathisers to do wrong knowing that our own doing will be covered up in some way, that time is now,” Judge Mogoeng said.

He added: “Generally elements of integrity rank higher than all other characteristics of leadership... even higher than incompetence... otherwise who cares about a competent yet corrupt leader?”

The remarks have not gone down well with the ANC, which is struggling to contain the fallout over the judgment four months ahead of municipal polls. Mantashe said the ANC had been critical of the public protector for “going public on issues”, and they were seeing the same with the Constitutional Court.

“There have now been a series of lectures given by the ConCourt. It’s something that is strange and we are monitoring it very closely because if it happens that the institutions will become populist instead of doing what is expected of them to do, we will always be critical of that kind of behaviour,” said Mantashe.

His criticism came as the ANC deployed members of its national leadership across the Eastern Cape to report on the national working committee’s decisions to accept Zuma’s apology.

Speaking at a different media briefing in Nelson Mandela Bay yesterday, ANC national executive committee member Ayanda Dlodlo said they were confident South Africans would forgive Zuma for his “mistake”.

“We have been visiting branches and regions all over the country and the president has made a public apology on the issues that were raised by the ConCourt. We have accepted the apology,” she said. TIDES High today . . .12.09am, midnight Tomorrow . . . .12.34am, 1.01pm Low today . . . . .6.10am, 6.21pm Tomorrow . . . . .7.01am, 7.07pm Spring tides . . . . . . . . . . .Apr 22

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Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.