ANC, Public Protector, at Dagger Drawn
8 September 2014 By Abi Giwa
Zuma and Mandosela
The war of words between members of the African National Congress, ANC, and the office of Public Protector over Jacob Zuma's use of public money for renovation of his personal house in Nkandla is getting dirtier, with military veteran association, represented by deputy defense secretary, Kebby Maphatsoe, accusing the Public Protector of working for the CIA.
The Public Protector, Thuli Mandosela has fired back, giving Maphatsoe 72 hours to proof his allegation, recant or face the wrath of her office.
According to the news24, Maphatsoe had said that Mandosela thought herself to be God, and that it was clear she wanted the president's head. He further alleged that the Public Protector was running a parallel government and that her actions had left them with no choice than that her actions were that of enemy's agent. Maphatsoe also said that the ANC created the Public Protector's that had turned into witch hunt for the party.
The trouble between the office of the Public Protector and the ANC members over the former's request for accountability concerning the renovation of President Zuma's private house can better be explained as a manifestation of corruption in the lives of public office holders in South Africa. The ANC truly created the Public Protector's office. But did the party created the office for the office holder not to ask questions on issues of probity involving members of the party in government?
Thuli Mandosela who occupies the office has said that she is acting independently in her investigation of the public money spent on President Zuma's private home in Nkandla. Her trouble arises from her persistence for accountability from the president's office, itemizing the areas of the renovation in the house that have nothing to do with Zuma's security and safety. All she has asked Zuma is for him to refund the money for that part of the renovation. Instead of respecting Mandosela's office as a Public Protector, members of the preisdent's party have gone after her, accusing her of writing to seek president's refund at the same time that an opposition party has written to ask what the president will do about the issue.
Obviously, members of the president party are making things more difficult for the president. How on earth would a president tell a Public Protector that he would only do what minister of police says and not act according to the letters of the constitution? Mandosela has fired back to the president that the police minister has no power under the constitution to usurp her office's role, and that the constitution has given her the power to ensure accountability in the discharge of administrative roles.
Another obvious issue here is that ANC members are under rating what Mandosela can do with the power of her office, either because she is a woman or that the party created the office she is occupying, and the president can do anything and go away with it.
Although Maphatsoe has retracted some of his disgusting comment, he is still insisting about an international intelligence agency's capability or intention to create its own office of a chief executive in South Africa. Observers are saying that when you cannot take care of your home, you are opening the door for outside intervention. And the only way to avoid that is the way Mandosela has chosen to ensure accountability, through making the president lead by example for other South Africans to emulate.
Bishop Desmond Tutu has made it clear in his words that Nelson Mandela lived and led by example, allowing accountability in public office and has charges current public office holders to do the same, and that if they have anything against the Public Protector's office procedure, they should go to court than resorting to childish name calling.
Less than 72 hours ultimatum given by Mandosela, the deputy defense minister has begun to retract his words. Latest news from South Africa indicate that the man is saying the news reporter is the culprit! But the worst scenario is the face-off between the deputy defense minister and some members of the parliament.
The Public Protector, Thuli Mandosela has fired back, giving Maphatsoe 72 hours to proof his allegation, recant or face the wrath of her office.
According to the news24, Maphatsoe had said that Mandosela thought herself to be God, and that it was clear she wanted the president's head. He further alleged that the Public Protector was running a parallel government and that her actions had left them with no choice than that her actions were that of enemy's agent. Maphatsoe also said that the ANC created the Public Protector's that had turned into witch hunt for the party.
The trouble between the office of the Public Protector and the ANC members over the former's request for accountability concerning the renovation of President Zuma's private house can better be explained as a manifestation of corruption in the lives of public office holders in South Africa. The ANC truly created the Public Protector's office. But did the party created the office for the office holder not to ask questions on issues of probity involving members of the party in government?
Thuli Mandosela who occupies the office has said that she is acting independently in her investigation of the public money spent on President Zuma's private home in Nkandla. Her trouble arises from her persistence for accountability from the president's office, itemizing the areas of the renovation in the house that have nothing to do with Zuma's security and safety. All she has asked Zuma is for him to refund the money for that part of the renovation. Instead of respecting Mandosela's office as a Public Protector, members of the preisdent's party have gone after her, accusing her of writing to seek president's refund at the same time that an opposition party has written to ask what the president will do about the issue.
Obviously, members of the president party are making things more difficult for the president. How on earth would a president tell a Public Protector that he would only do what minister of police says and not act according to the letters of the constitution? Mandosela has fired back to the president that the police minister has no power under the constitution to usurp her office's role, and that the constitution has given her the power to ensure accountability in the discharge of administrative roles.
Another obvious issue here is that ANC members are under rating what Mandosela can do with the power of her office, either because she is a woman or that the party created the office she is occupying, and the president can do anything and go away with it.
Although Maphatsoe has retracted some of his disgusting comment, he is still insisting about an international intelligence agency's capability or intention to create its own office of a chief executive in South Africa. Observers are saying that when you cannot take care of your home, you are opening the door for outside intervention. And the only way to avoid that is the way Mandosela has chosen to ensure accountability, through making the president lead by example for other South Africans to emulate.
Bishop Desmond Tutu has made it clear in his words that Nelson Mandela lived and led by example, allowing accountability in public office and has charges current public office holders to do the same, and that if they have anything against the Public Protector's office procedure, they should go to court than resorting to childish name calling.
Less than 72 hours ultimatum given by Mandosela, the deputy defense minister has begun to retract his words. Latest news from South Africa indicate that the man is saying the news reporter is the culprit! But the worst scenario is the face-off between the deputy defense minister and some members of the parliament.
