Zille challenges Motlanthe
2008-09-26 11:17
Cape Town - The leader of the Democratic Alliance, Helen Zille, has urged President Kgalema Motlanthe to do two things which are in the interests of the people as a whole.
They are, she said, "in the national interest but will not serve the
self-interest of ANC president Jacob Zuma and his clique".
Writing in her weekly internet news letter on Friday, the DA leader said:
"Firstly, he must announce the establishment of a judicial commission of
inquiry into the arms deal, headed by a judge nominated by the Chief Justice.
"In his verdict on the matter between Jacob Zuma vs the National Director
of Public Prosecutions, Judge Chris Nicholson said of the arms deal: 'Only a
commission of inquiry can properly rid our land of this cancer that is
devouring the body politic and the reputation for integrity built up so
assiduously after the fall of apartheid.'"
Zille said this proposal was a key recommendation in a judgment which was hailed by the Zuma camp as proof that our judiciary is independent and that
constitutional democracy is flourishing.
No 'political solution'
"Secondly," she said, "President Motlanthe must state unequivocally that
under his administration there will be no 'political solution' to Zuma's legal
problems. Any attempt to broker a special political deal for Zuma outside of
the courts, with presidential consent, would be illegal and unconstitutional,
and would violate the oath of office taken by President Motlanthe when he was sworn in by the Chief Justice yesterday.
"It would be a betrayal of his conscience, and a gross infringement of the
principle of equality before the law, if President Motlanthe abused his power
either to facilitate or condone a political settlement for Zuma."
Zille praised the president for retaining Trevor Manuel as Finance Minister
and for appointing Barbara Hogan as Health Minister.
"The redeployment of her predecessor, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, as
Minister in the Presidency, is hard to justify given her track record of
incompetence," she said.
"Perhaps her political survival can be explained by the fact that her
husband, Mendi Msimang, is a former ANC treasurer, and knows a great deal about the financial dealings and misdealings of the ruling party."