Manne Dipico : Right to Reply
I categorically deny the allegations made against me by Dean Snyders (“Manne Dipico framed me”, March 13 to 19) and wish to draw your attention to several distortions.
The journalist who wrote the report did so without reference to my office. I believe that Sechaba ka’Nkosi, despite being a fine writer, succumbed to the temptation of submitting a “good” story to his editor.
When one views his line of action, one cannot but conclude that he deliberately bypassed the Communications Directorate. The directorate had earlier in the week, prior to the journalist’s arrival, issued a contact list to the Mail & Guardian and other media. To date, there is no record that ka’Nkosi tried to enlist the assistance of this department, despite having twice run into staff members who are known to him.
Your report alleges that I had a hand in the arrest of the said gentleman for allegedly dealing in uncut diamonds – laughable, were it not for the serious implications it has for this office.
Had your journalist taken the trouble to examine my detractor’s motives, a different picture would have emerged. The article rightly points out that Snyders is currently out on bail of R20 000. I have not been charged, nor am I a witness for the police investigating team. This should speak volumes.
If I had assisted the police in the matter, I would not have hesitated to let people know of the deed I am alleged to have carried out. It is, after all, a stated mission of my office to discourage criminal activity.
Your informant’s reluctance to say why I engineered such a scheme arises from the fact that there was no such scheme. There is no reason why I should engage in such tactics.
My detractor is part of a group of people who view the premier’s office as a stumbling block for their business ambitions. This arises from the fact that my office has, on numerous occasions, thwarted efforts by business to profit at the expense of communities who seek restitution of ancestral lands.
Your informant was formerly employed by the national Department of Land Affairs’s pilot programme on a 24-month contract that was not renewed. At a meeting between the national minister and the !Xu and Khwe communities Snyders publicly disagreed with the communities over the choice of land they preferred to be settled on. This unsettled the minister, as well as community representatives. The land preferred by this gentleman is known to be owned by one of his close business associates.
Furthermore, great antagonism was caused by the fact that the provincial administration declined to use the services of a travel agency purportedly belonging to my accuser. The reason is simply that the business in question did not, and still does not, have the infrastructure to handle the local, national and international travel requisites of this administration.
Worse still is the fact that the tender from this business arrived way beyond the closing date. This fact has been conveniently withheld from your journalist.
Instead, this government’s properly considered reluctance to use that particular travel agency is interpreted as a snub on black business. Hard-working business people have been duped into supporting this opportunistic interpretation. It has also been used to mislead the public into believing this government is not concerned about black empowerment.
I hope this sets the record straight. This type of reporting negates efforts at building better relations between government and the media.
I have high regard for your newspaper, which played a seminal role in structuring our understanding of press freedom in this country. I believe that you will continue to perform that role with the dedication which has come to be associated with your brand of journalism.
— Manne Dipico is premier of the Northern Cape
* Sechaba ka’Nkosi replies: I have documented proof of stonewalled calls made to at least two people in that directorate over a number of days. Also, I never insinuated you were involved in diamond dealings. My focus was on the divisions within African National Congress structures in the province and the degree of disgruntlement of some of your erstwhile comrades.