Boesak 'jumped the queue'

2005-01-16 19:49

Johannesburg - Alan Boesak's presidential pardon was a "travesty" Democratic Alliance spokesperson on justice, Sheila Camerer said in a statement on Sunday.

While presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo defended Boesak's pardoning as being "in the public interest", Camerer said President Thabo Mbeki or his spokesperson needed to explain how this was so.

"Perhaps they mean 'in the ANC's interest' as it suits the ANC elite to pretend that the public interest and their interests are the same thing," Camerer said.

Boesak had been convicted of stealing a large amount of donor money from poor people, but had continued to deny his guilt, even though his conviction was confirmed on appeal by the highest court in the land, Camerer said.

Former Justice Minister Penuell Maduna said he had received an application to pardon Boesak, but had turned it down.

Camerer questioned why current Justice Minister Bridget Mabandla had been "more compliant".

"Pardons are also only usually given to people who express remorse at what they have done. Not only has Allan Boesak never done this, he has never even admitted his guilt," Camerer said.

Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) president Dr Motsoko Pheko also said the pardoning of Boesak was a travesty of justice.

Motsoko was indignant that Boesak had been allowed to "jump the queue" while former PAC freedom fighters had been languishing in jail since 1995.

Khumalo said it was the president's prerogative to pardon Boesak.

- SAPA