ANC’s stance on Zuma the right one

IN a short statement after former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s court appearance on Tuesday, the ANC said its view on the matter “continues to be informed by the principled position that the law must be allowed to take its course without let or hindrance, and that all accused should be presumed innocent until found otherwise”.

That is a position we endorse, implying as it does criticism of those who advocate executive interference in the judicial process or who lean towards a more capricious approach to the administration of justice.

The arraignment of Zuma on two counts of corruption unfortunately involves more than the administration of justice, the former deputy president demonstrating clearly on Tuesday that he has little intention of abiding by the agreement reached with ANC president Thabo Mbeki and endorsed by the National Executive Council.

That agreement noted that leaders “should always lead by example, as custodians of the values and best practices of the movement  . . `ensuring that the interests of the movement come first in everything we do. Especially in difficult times, leaders should be the best examples of principled and disciplined conduct.”

Zuma’s threat to reveal the reasons for his implication in corruption at the end of his trial – a hardly subtle hint at political agendas – together with his failure to rebuke those responsible for burning a T-shirt carrying the face of the president or silence those singing anti-Mbeki songs all fly in the face of that agreement.

Further, it would not be incorrect to conclude that by his actions Zuma is promoting the divisions within the ANC and Alliance and between himself and Mbeki.

It is unlikely, other than condemnation of those responsible for burning the T-shirt, that the ANC will seek to act against Zuma or others ignoring the dictates of the NEC as this would serve only to fuel the flames.

That is the right approach and one likely to win endorsement from most ANC members who desire water and sanitation, houses and jobs – not a political circus.

Slap in the face for the needy

AT a time when funds for the school-feeding scheme are insufficient to provide food for children five days a week and there is no money to fill posts at public hospitals, it is quite unacceptable that close to R8-million should be taken from the education and health budgets to finance the Pillay Commission.

But that is what Premier Nosimo Balindlela and members of her executive council decided should happen invoking a section of the Public Finance Management Act that allowed an adjustments appropriation to be tabled providing for expenditure “of an exceptional nature” that was “unforeseen and unavoidable”.

Whether that section applies in this case is questionable, however necessary it might be to conduct an investigation into the provincial finances.

But is it credible that after the financial problems experienced by this province since 1994, not to mention the systemic corruption, it was suddenly decided there should be a commission of inquiry?

And are we to believe that there could not have been some personal belt-tightening by the members of the executive council and that, as was stated by Finance MEC Billy Nel on Tuesday, “no major impact on service delivery is expected”?

Perhaps Balindlela should tell that to the children who are going hungry two days a week or the sick spending hours in queues at public hospitals waiting for treatment.