Masking the enemy within

For two weeks the African National Congress (ANC) came face to face with the enemy within -- the contradictions within the glorious movement. It had to deal with a president who most ANC members would defend to the bitter end but who constantly springs surprises on them -- the most recent of which was a love child and an extramarital affair.

The party did its best to mop up the worst of the mess, but made it clear to Zuma that the ANC was gatvol and had reached its limit. ANC leaders refused to rush to his defence as they usually do, instead grinding their teeth in an uncomfortable silence that surrounded the party on this issue.

ANC MPs could not hide their discomfort with the president. During his State of the Nation address they applauded him civilly, but there was none of the abundant enthusiasm that signalled Zuma's first such address in June 2009.

Their response to the State of the Nation debate on Monday was even more telling. DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip climbed into an already tense Zuma like no other leader has done before, asking Zuma if he had even bothered to read the speech before he delivered it. Trollip also had the audacity to ask Zuma whether he had been "set up" by his advisers and whether he realised the importance of this speech.

Extremely harsh words from Trollip, but the silence from the MPs spoke more loudly. Everyone in the ANC benches sat stoically watching Trollip speak and not even a whisper was raised about the opposition berating Zuma in such a crude and personal manner. Zuma also did not take Trollip on in his reply on Tuesday, even though he seemed significantly more confident and defiant than he was during his State of the Nation address.

His advisers argue that he would not stoop to Trollip's level, but perhaps it is simpler than that: he had nothing with which to defend himself. But the rest of his response on Tuesday was simple and straightforward. He spoke from the heart about difficult topics like Julius Malema and nationalisation and seemed to say things he really believed in. His MPs royally repaid him for that: the applause was overwhelming and senior MPs rushed to his side to congratulate him. And when Cope MP Mluleki George was kicked out of the house for refusing to say sorry for a comment, it gave them something they could all rally behind -- an enemy outside.

With some of Zuma's dignity among his peers restored, the ANC could focus on the opposition and milked the ill-advised "fuck you" from DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard for all it was worth. And they proved again that, for the ANC, economy, poverty and underdevelopment are key challenges. But the most difficult task that the movement faces is looking at itself honestly.

Source: Mail & Guardian

Hijacker bail fraud outrage

The Justice Department has been urged to investigate how a dangerous crime suspect being held for hijacking three cars managed to slip out of jail using a fraudulent bail certificate. Police yesterday confirmed that a warrant of arrest has been issued for Innocent Phumlani Dlamini, 21, who, according to court records, was granted bail of R3 000 on December 22, 2009. However, Dlamini appeared in court on December 14, his case was adjourned for trial on January 22.

The Justice Department has been urged to investigate how a dangerous crime suspect being held for hijacking three cars managed to slip out of jail using a fraudulent bail certificate. One of his victims, says she has lost faith in the justice system."I was shocked. How could he have gotten bail when he had been remanded and was due to appear in court this week? My faith in the entire judicial system came crashing down after waiting almost a year to get a court date finalised."

A source has confirmed to the Sunday Tribune that the suspect appeared in U regional court on October 7 last year and again on December 14 when his trial was set down for January 20 to 22. He was remanded in custody at Westville Prison to stand trial on five counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. However, according to the J7 form, which is the warrant of detention, the suspect was granted bail in U court on December 22. Warrants of detention are usually filled out by the court orderly, who is a police official. They are then signed by the magistrate. The source said the suspect should not have been called to court on December 22, and according to the charge sheet, he was not. The charge sheet does not reflect an appearance in any court on that day.

The source confirmed that the U court, where the suspect was allegedly granted bail, was closed for the day and the magistrate, Anand Maharaj, denies it is his signature on the form. Dianne Kohler Barnard, MP and DA shadow minister of police, said, "This country's criminal justice system is almost beyond repair. At the root of much of the problem is corruption shown, for example, by the continuous increase in missing police case dockets, the number of which has increased every year since 2003, and totals more than 2 500 since then. "By all accounts this man is a serial criminal, yet he played the system like a maestro. Good cops put their lives on the line apprehending suspected criminals like this, and for him to be out on the streets again is unconscionable. "Yet it's their colleagues and the officials they work with on a daily basis who have allowed him to stroll out."

Justice spokesman Tlali Tlali said officials would investigate to establish if this was "an isolated incident or a phenomenon". KwaZulu-Natal's state attorney Krish Govender said it would be wrong to assume that forged bail applications were a trend, but said the matter deserved urgent investigation. "This is the first time I am hearing of such a case in KZN. I'm sure the Department of Justice will pursue this matter with vigour."

Source: IoL