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Parties slam talk of pardon for Boesak By JAQUES KEETCape Town – THE news that Allan Boesak has applied to President Thabo Mbeki for a presidential pardon and might be in line for a “high government posting” has been met with dismay by political parties. The justice department yesterday confirmed Mr Boesak had applied for a pardon, and the department was considering it. If it was approved, it would then be sent to Mr Mbeki for his consideration, Justice Minister Penuell Maduna’s spokesman said. He could not say when this was likely to happen. It was been reported yesterday that rumours were rife that “a high government post, possibly in the diplomatic service”, had been set aside for the former clergyman. It was also reported Mr Boesak said he hoped the rumours were true. But government communications chief Joel Netshitenzhe said he was unaware of any plans to appoint Mr Boesak to a governmental position, either locally or abroad. DA leader Tony Leon said it was “bizarre”, and if Mr Boesak – who had never admitted his guilt, despite being found guilty in the highest courts in the land – was granted a pardon, it would undermine the justice system. Presidential pardons should be given “sparingly” and only in cases where a “profound injustice” had been done to an individual. Mr Leon said starving children deprived of donor funds were “the real victims, not Boesak”. NNP spokesman Sheila Camerer said governments around the world had a tradition of “sending their less desirable luminaries to remote diplomatic posts” and South Africa was no exception. “Now there is speculation that President Mbeki may ‘pardon’ Allan Boesak and send him somewhere in the world to represent South Africa. Let’s hope it is Outer Mongolia if this has to happen, but it shouldn’t,” she said. The courts had found Mr Boesak to be a “crook”, she said. “He stole large amounts of money, intended to benefit the poor, and feathered his own nest. “Pardoning a crook like Boesak contradicts everything (Mbeki) says he stands for,” she said. UDM spokesman Jakes Maseka said: “It is a joke.” Mr Boesak had been found guilty in the courts, where he had an opportunity to defend himself. The UDM would be very concerned if he was pardoned and given a diplomatic post. Mr Boesak was convicted of fraud and theft in May, 2000, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. He was released on parole in the middle of last year, but his parole period came to an end last month. By being granted a presidential pardon, one’s criminal record is expunged in its entirety. Mr Boesak’s selection as South African ambassador to the UN in Geneva in 1994 was scuppered when the fraud and theft charges were brought against him.
Yesterday, the justice department also confirmed it had already sent another list of 23 applicants for presidential pardon to Mr Mbeki for his consideration. This comes in the wake of the furore when one of the 33 people granted pardons by Mr Mbeki in May this year – former Apla member Dumisani Ncamazana, 27 – was arrested for the murder of East London shop owner Martin Whitaker two weeks after being released. |
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