Posted by Former South African cabinet ministers who resigned in solidarity with ex-president Thabo Mbeki have slammed the move by the African National Congress (ANC) to pressure the government to withdraw its intention to appeal against Judge Chris Nicholson’s ruling on the Jacob Zuma case.
The judge implicitly accused the former president and some of his ministers of interfering in Zuma’s prosecution.
The latest drama follows the opinion expressed by the ANC’s national working committee to President Kgalema Motlanthe that he withdraw the decision taken by the Mbeki cabinet to challenge the ruling. It is understood that Motlanthe told the ANC that the cabinet was considering the committee’s suggestion but, owing to technical and legal processes involved, the cabinet could not decide immediately.
Mluleki George, who is a founder member of the Congress of the People (COPE) and former deputy Defence minister, accused the ANC of meddling in the government’s work. “That was a cabinet decision and not Mbeki’s decision and as such it was a government decision. That is what makes us even more concerned about the current leadership. They are blinded by their hatred against Mbeki and can no longer think rationally,” he said.
Equally perplexed by the decision was Mbeki’s right-hand man and former minister in the presidency, Essop Pahad, who questioned the ANC’s move as being contrary to the legal processes. “The legal advice received was that the inference made (by Judge Nicholson) implicates the cabinet. That is why the cabinet agreed (to appeal). “I can’t understand why the cabinet wants to withdraw, because sitting ministers are implicated whether they like it or not,” Pahad said.
Former deputy Finance minister Jabu Moleketi was more diplomatic, saying that the decision to appeal had been supported by the entire Mbeki cabinet - for “good reasons”. “All I can say is that a decision was taken and there were good reasons for taking that decision; there was no one who, at that point, advanced a contrary view,” said Moleketi.
The ANC recalled Mbeki as the country’s president in September on the basis of his cabinet’s decision to appeal against Judge Nicholson’s ruling, triggering a political explosion that has led to the formation of the breakaway party and resignations of several ministers. Gwede Mantashe, Secretary-General of the ANC would only say that the party could not instruct the cabinet, and that he refused to “comment on discussions”.
Source African Press Agency
