Most of my regular readers will know that I have stood squarely behind former National Prosecuting Authority boss Vusi Pikoli in his bid to regain his position at the head of the NPA. I have done so because Pikoli is a man of unquestionable integrity who showed that he had the courage to withstand the icy blasts of a political storm without taking a step backwards.
Unfortunately as a result of his determination, not to bend, he was axed from his position with no little unkind words said about him and why he had been removed. Needless to say they are, in the main, wholly without merit and unworthy of repetition here.
The fact is that his job has now been taken over by an acting head with President Jacob Zuma indicating his intention to appoint a successor.
In response thereto Pikoli launched an application to the high court seeking to urgently interdict the president from replacing him with a permanent head of the NPA until the matter of his sacking has been finally determined.
While I have the utmost sympathy for Pikoli’s position the time has come for him to understand Zuma’s position as well as that of the country.
Crime is unfortunately an even bigger problem now than when he was ousted. We have protests being hijacked by criminal elements who use them to invade properties as well as loot and pillage stores. All of this with less than a year to run before the planet arrives for World Cup 2010. As such we cannot be left stranded without both our top cop and head of the NPA.
The president is compelled to act and he must do so as a matter of urgency.
This will not preclude Pikoli from claiming damages suffered as a result of him being unfairly dismissed and in my humble opinion the balance of convenience must favour the country, not an individual no matter how meritorious.
I would, however, draw to the government’s attention that many rogues and undesirables have been looked after despite their less than credible performances for this country. In accordance therewith a satisfactory package should be given to this man who genuinely put his country before his own interests.
It’s the right thing to do.
Traps: “……Pikoli is a man of unquestionable integrity…..”
As we have learned from the Hlope (Motata, McBride, Yengeni….) affairs, this will be his downfall.
Wait for our friend Si”vies”so to bring some logic into the debate.comment
Piloki is pursuing his rights as a citizen before the courts…this also needs to be respected.
We’re stuck trying to draw a line in the sand between the good of an individual versus that of a society. In this case I think Pikoli, considering his unfair treatment, should get the benefit of our support.
The acting head of the NPA is quite capable of carrying on his duties (otherwise he would never have been appointed in the first place…well hopefully anyway!) until this matter is resolved. Good of society = check!
A patience building is required on your part perhaps Traps, nez pa?
The willingness to sack a honest individual for a compliant one and then claim it’s OK because that is for the greater good (of whom, pray?) is the road to perdition and the path all nascent dictatorships follow. Look after individuals and society will look after itself.
The ANC plan for the judiciary is falling nicely into place. JSC constituted as Jeff and Jake wants it, Pikoli court case ignored.
See story at:
http://www.news24.com/Content/MyNews24/YourStory/1162/8eecb7b5cb0e4c2aaaf2725908622b5e/24-07-2009%2010-07/Transformation_or_date_rape
Come on Traps the Government wants a lame duck as the NPA boss. They cannot have an honest person there as he will cause all sorts of trouble for the mafia at the top. Be real.
Birds of a feather.
” In accordance therewith a satisfactory package should be given to this man who genuinely put his country before his own interests.” hahaha err not going to happen!
Good riddance!
he was arrogant, insensitive, overated and had poor judgement…the country is well off without him; quite frankly no one misses him now.
let’s move on with our precious lives.
@traps the writing has been on the wall since Polokwane. People of integrity are not welcome amongst the ruling elite.
It is the principle of the matter, Traps, that matters.
I support Pikoli 120%. He should expose the rot otherwise it will get worse and stink all over the world.
If we are not going to get anywhere with such things as the arms-deal, at least we need to expose the corruption inherent in the cadre deployment.
Pikoli may not get his job back, but the evil men will not rest for they would have been terribly exposed.
Right on, Vusi Pikoli!
Traps -
Congratulations on the Richmark Sentinel. I finally went to your site with nil expectations. Serve this old hag right – I was, and pardon my modern verbal garbage – “gobsmacked.”
[Hate that disgusting word but modern humans use it endlessly as a standard higher than they expected - ugh!]
You set the standard high as a beginning – scratch your head to keep raising the standard.
I want a variety of news in one area and you have that !
My generation were taught to look at the big picture first and you encapsulate that on your website.
As for Pikoli – again old drum beating.
This country has another world record – The Most Acting Heads of Departments in History and in The Future.
This country does not trust honest people as they are born to disbelieve everyone.
The ANC alone is the ethical giant in Lilliput.
Pikoli should pocket his ethics, demand a huge ‘shut up & leave now’ package and ply his excellent credentials where it will be appreciated and rewarded.
SA does not value skills, honesty and work ethic – only greedy, corrupt, lying inept buffoons.
Pikoli was at the helm when the Special Browse Mole was commissioned, he sat on that document for over a year before Cosatu exposed him and Ivor Powell, the author of that filthy political document from the “elite” crime busters, the Scorpions.
In his own admission, Pikoli went to seek guidance (an independent thinker of intergrity) from Mbeki on how to act. Mbeki told Pikoli that more or less 90 % of the contents of that document was true.
Much as Pikoli stood against Mbeki on the Selebi saga, he is no angel. Much as he was declared fit for duty, it was because he was found not to have had a malicious intent in his handling of Zuma, but too ignorant and negligent when it comes to national security matters. He allowed the DSO to continue peddling intelligence and relying on undesirable foreign intelligence agents, this despite the fact that the Khampepe commission had warned against such illegal acts by the DSO.
Much as Pikoli could make a good NDPP, he is not indespensible. Manuel was replaced by a competent minister too, Mboweni by a competent govenor designate too. Nobody is irreplaceable in this country.
When we sing Pikoli’s praises, we must also point out his shortcomings, that is called fairness. The attempt by the media and pseudo-political analysts to take away the state’s responsibility to govern is treasonable to say the least. The DSO was established by govt, disbanded and replaced by govt. Power to the people!
I also fully support Pikoli.
The more difficult and embarrassing he makes it for Zuma and the ANC the better. They are too used to thinking that the law applies to everyone else but not to them. The less often they get away with it the better.
The acting public prosecutor can continue till the case is heard. No-one fast forwarded Zuma’s case – unfortunately for us.
Besides if he does not fight for his job it might lessen the damages.
Siphiwo Siphiwo – sometimes i’m not sure if you do it on purpose – do you not see the irony in your words?
Papa,
RE: The browse Mole report. The browse mole report has never been coherently argued against. The “information peddlers” on which the report relied were in fact the same agents on whom our intelligence service has relied for years; the same people who helped to halt the coup in guinea, and not at all “discredited”.
the matter was never discredited at all. The door was simply quietly closed…
the disturbing question remains unanswered… is Zuma the puppet of other masters? did he front a political putsch?
We are encouraged not to ask too many questions… i find that disturbing, as where there is smoke, often… we find fire.
siphiwe
everyone one who is a hard worker, who seems to have intergrity, good at their job is labelled as being arrogant,insensitive and overrated.
when are we going to admire excellence when we see it and hope for more of it.
Joe
The Browse Mole said Zuma was supported by forces like Libya.
He is- so is Mandala’s ANC. Don’t forget – Mandela’s grandson is called Gadaffi.