Boesak's pardon raises hackles

2005-01-16 20:31

Johannesburg - Allan Boesak's presidential pardon was greeted with pleasure and with derision on Sunday - with some political parties calling it a "travesty of justice".

The veteran anti-apartheid leader, and man accused of stealing from the poor, would remain in South Africa with his family, he told Sapa.

There was a mixed reaction to Saturday's official announcement of his reprieve:

The Independent Democrats said that constitutionally Boesak was entitled, like other South Africans, to be considered.

"The Independent Democrats respects the powers that the president has to grant pardon," said ID justice spokesperson, Cecil Burgess.

However, the Justice Ministry should speed up the processing of other applications "so as not to create a perception that this process only benefits those closer to the ruling party," Burgess said.

'Abuse' of justice

The Democratic Alliance and the Pan Africanist Congress, however, considered it an abuse of the justice system.

"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," DA spokesperson on justice, Sheila Camerer said.

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.

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

"It is a travesty of justice," he said in a statement.

The justice ministry declined to comment, saying the decision was not in their hands, but was the President's decision.

However, Penuell Maduna, the former justice minister, recommended that Boesak not be pardoned.

Boesak 'surprised'

Boesak was convicted in 1999 for fraud and theft of money entrusted to the Foundation for Peace and Justice, of which he was the chairperson.

He served two years of his six year prison term, and in 2002 applied for presidential pardon.

Boesak said he was surprised on Saturday when the media reported that he had been pardoned, and his criminal record expunged.

He would remain in the church and in the ministry, where he felt he would able to make a contribution to the country and society, he said.

He would do part-time pastoral work in a congregation in Piketberg, in the Western Cape.

Boesak said he had considered leaving the country to teach overseas.

However, he and his family decided on stay in South Africa: "This is where our future lies and the future of our children."

- SAPA