JUSTIN ARENSTEIN, Nelspruit | Wednesday 4.15pm.
MPUMALANGA Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu owes the public a detailed explanation outlining why he appointed leaders to his cabinet who are admitted liars, the presiding bishop of the Methodist Church, Mvume Dandala, said on Wednesday.
Dandala said Mahlangu’s planned apology for attempts to defend new finance MEC Jacques Modipane’s breach of public trust was inadequate.
“It would be nice to hear an apology but the real issue here is how anyone can condone placing admitted liars in positions of leadership,” said Dandala.
Mahlangu’s attempts to rationalise lying by politicians as internationally acceptable were also “utterly stunning” said Dandala.
“We all attended a moral summit in Cape Town last year and committed ourselves to clean governance. We certainly don’t need the kind of leadership that condones lying,” he said.
Mahlangu has apologised to the ANC and is drafting a report explaining his comments but said on Tuesday that he was quoted out of context and had merely discussed the merits of lying in jest.
ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama was unable to explain the allegations in light of audio and video footage of Mahlangu’s straight faced statement.
Mahlangu insisted during the statement that Modipane’s lies were not serious enough to preclude him from the new provincial cabinet.
Mahlangu added that he did not consider it serious if politicians lied about their actions.
“It is nothing new. Many politicians publicly deny they did certain things but then later admit to them. It is accepted and is not unusual anywhere in the world. It wasn’t the end of Bill Clinton’s life and I personally don’t find it to be a very bad thing,” he said. –AENS