Chumani Maxwele, a student from UCT, was arrested, his house searched and then interrogated about his political affiliations after purportedly making an obscene gesture at President Jacob Zuma’s convoy of vehicles while out jogging.
According to the Sowetan, Maxwele was arrested for “waving on” Zuma’s convoy when he was jogging on De Waal Drive, Cape Town, on Wednesday last week. A black BMW pulled up and three men jumped out, allegedly pointing guns at him. He was then pushed into a car. According to an official spokesman the outrage involved waving at President Jacob Zuma’s convoy, swearing at the president and resisting arrest.
I don’t believe that South Africans appreciate the seriousness of these charges, which are best described by a 20th century philosopher who, when facing a decision from “judge” cried out : “You cannot be serious! The ball was out. Are you blind?”
Correct me if I’m wrong but the president has been having a rough time of it lately following the love-child incident and a less-than-inspiring State of the Nation address. Yesterday Cope and the Democratic Alliance walked out of Parliament after a dodgy call from the speaker of Parliament.
So the last thing his image needs right now is the Gestapo-style tactics employed by his less-than-secret service.
If as police ministry spokesperson Zweli Mnisi says Maxwele did point his middle finger at the president and made a gesture which was synonymous with swearing and showing disrespect then the best, and perhaps only, thing to have done was to make out like you never saw it and carry on driving.
That way nobody would ever know that there are people on the ground who are so incensed by the president that they actually feel compelled to show him the middle finger.
The arrest and subsequent conduct of the police creates an incident which is not only unnecessary but will beg the question of what kind of administration is running the country where police are slow to prevent an Eersterust boy from being shot at a packed sports event for children — 5 days after a first attempt had been made — but are brutally efficient in pouncing on a jogger who may have shown the middle finger?
Did the police for example call in the NIA when an attempt to murder Abdul Abrahams was first made? Did they send storm troopers into the area trying to track down these assassins?
Yet when some jogger who could never have even known he was going to bump into the Zuma convoy gets irritated by all the noise we suddenly have Night of the Long Knives?
Mind you there was one act of kindness shown to the poor jogger.
When the three SS men grabbed him and pulled into one of the cars in the convoy they apparently put a brown paper bag over his head.
With Zuma’s current popularity Maxwele must have been mightily relieved that nobody could recognise him as part of the convoy.
Our recommendation is that Zuma’s security add one more course to their training programme. It’s one used by many police forces around the world and may prove vital to their wellbeing. It’s called Getalife 101 and I’m sure it will prove beneficial to them the next time one of those irritating convoys encounters joggers along their route.
As for Maxwele, perhaps the president could grant him a pardon?
While his “crimes” may be far more serious than those of Shaik and De Kock, perhaps it might be appropriate to signal to South Africans that the quality of mercy still exists in this country.
If not ask a vet if he can have Chumani put down at a group rate if some of the older police dogs are included.
Siphiwo, given that you bend over backwards to defend people like Malema, the irony involved in you calling anyone “ill-bred and respectless” is truly staggering.
Also, free speech applies to all, not just to those you decide should have it. And respect is earned, not automatically granted.
As a student I once inadvertently trespassed on the ‘Groot Krokodil’s’ residence lawn in Cape Town. Then I was rude to the security officers. They just ignored me completely, took a statement and issued a small fine for trespassing. Evidently Zuma’s very pathetic SS need a lesson in professionalism from the ‘old guard’.
@Siphiwo Siphiwo
Dianne Kohler Barnard’s remarks in parliament were unbecoming and she has quite rightly been suspended. She has also issued a full apology.
Straight away, not 4 days later once public reaction has been gauged.
If you would take the trouble to read the transcripts / watch the tapes, you will see that it was the DEPUTY Speaker that was failing to ensure adherance to the rules of parliament.
Having had personal contact with the person concerned in Cape Town , Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo, I am not sure if this failure to act correctly as Speaker was intentional and malicious, or just a sign of igorance and lack of understanding of the rules, processes and procedures governing the role of speaker.
During her tenure as Mayor of Cape Town, Ms Mfeketo was linked to various tender and development scandals (Big bay, N2 gateway, Du Noon housing)and regularly and repeatedly either arrived late for functions or did not pitch up at all.
Financial mismanagment and overspending of the budget was the norm under Ms Mfeketo’s tenure.
Registered letters to the mayor were ignored and went unanswered.
I now have a better understanding of what commentators mean when they speak of ANC cadre deployment of unqualified cadres to top postions in local and national government.
So Siphiwo, your are quite justified in criticising Ms Kohler Barnard for using the “f” word in parliament.
Perhaps if Nomainidia acted correctly and impartially as speaker, the profanity would not have been uttered!
These “security guards” are employees of the State and subject to Government disciplinary codes. Besides the dodgy excuse for detaining this hapless fellow they should be subject to a disciplinary hearing into the matter.
Or
If they are personal ANC bodyguards they shouldn’t be there as it’s taxpayer’s money that is keeping those sirens blaring and the blue lights flashing.
In any event this is but another example of the increasing arrogance and intolerance being displayed by the rulers of this country who are consciously alienating themselves from the public. The arrogance displayed is only superseded by the ignorance of the faithful masses who vote, vote and vote again and again, for a party that only has self-interest at heart.
I await with anticipatory delight the first mass finger waving protest. Absolutely the best way of dealing with this kind of flagrant abuse of state authority is to show disgust & repugnance. This is NOT about swearing at an “elder” but showing what one thinks of a politician – quite a different matter. Anyone, whether young or old, who stands for ELECTION, must be able to take the heat of abuse or else they should get out of the kitchen.
The suppression of the right to speak by BOTH the DA and Cope is a lot more worrying tha Diane swearing.
And the jogger should sue and make some cash.
This is not the first time – they have also shot at the car of an 84 year old man who did not get out of the way fast enough.
He was probably deaf and did not see them in his rear view mirror.
So you can raise your member, but not your finger. Nice.
People should learn to respect our leaders…that’s all we want. A respectful nation.
Hey Guys….Chill !! What are you worrying about?? Every time these ANC buffoons ,pull a “SS-Gestapo trick” like this…the ANC,get to turn away a ??couple hundred…?? couple thousand..dissolutioned ANC supporters !! Sheez, I cant wait for the next ‘blue light brigade’ ,to come screaming past…so I can do my bit…and show “some respect” !! Ya Mun
Zuma chuckles, “he he he he he he”, clears his nasal passages, pushes his spectacles up onto the bridge of his nose with his middle finger, and retorts, “Absolutly!”
When Dubya visited Canada he met the press and in a rare flash of impromptu humour he said “I want to thank those 80 people who greeted us (our motorcade) on the road…and who waved at us…with all five fingers”. Funny though that I do not recall any arrests. Just first world stuff I guess…
@ SS …This is laughable. The nation would have no problem being respectful if the “leaders” behaved in a manner deserving of respect. There are millions of South Africans who do not think that these “leaders” (or many of their followers) are deserving of respect. The bottom line……..respect is something that you EARN through your actions. Think Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu if you are looking for leaders deserving of respect.
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@ Winston – Classic!
I just need someone to show me a ‘middle finger the Blue Lights’ group on Facebook. I sense the time has come for ordinary people to show the ANC what they feel about the contempt they feel for us.
First it’s a bag over your head, next step you are taking a dive from a helicopter from 10 000 feet over the sea.
Show some respek man!
It is very, very sad that the people who vote ANC do not seem to be able to withdraw their votes come a general election even though the ANC is failing in practical governance in so many, many spheres. This incident is just a small example.