State tools 'not for parties'

2009-07-03 21:13

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma on Friday warned against using instruments of state for political party interests.

Writing in his newsletter on the ANC website, Zuma said in contrast to government - which served a five-year term on the basis of a political mandate - the state referred to those public institutions which remained in place beyond a specific term of office.

These institutions, the professional public service for example, were meant in their composition and conduct to be non-partisan, he said.

Institutions regulated by Constitution

Matters relating to these institutions were regulated by provisions of the Constitution and the laws of the country.

"We cannot allow a situation in which the institutions or resources of the state are used to advance party political or other partisan interests.

"This means that we must ensure that the relevant laws and regulations are strictly adhered to.

"Where there are violations, action needs to be taken in line with our laws," he said.

It also meant a consciousness within state institutions and among public servants that it was unacceptable to use the instruments of state to advance narrow party interests had to be developed, the president said.

Govt 'for all South Africans'

He further said that public servants should not behave in a partisan manner and were expected to undertake without favour the tasks necessary to implement the will of the people.

Regardless of the party that won the election, the government of the day was the government of all South Africans, Zuma said.

As it implemented its mandate, it should therefore equally attend to the needs of all South Africans. This extended to all institutions of the state.

"As the ANC we are committed to ensuring that this happens in practice," Zuma said.

- SAPA