Barry Streek
Minister of Safety and Security Steve Tshwete received a light tap on the wrist
this week from President Thabo Mbeki for naming three African National Congress
stalwarts allegedly plotting to oust him from the presidency.
The most Mbeki would say about Tshwete’s statement, given in a reply to a question in a TV interview, was that it was “wrong” to name people before the
investigation into the claims against them had been completed.
He also said Tshwete was acting according to his duties in initiating an investigation into the rumours about the alleged plot.
In doing so, Mbeki demonstrated once again that he would loyally defend the members of his Cabinet even if they commit political blunders.
He showed this sort of loyalty two years ago when he defended former mineral and
energy affairs minister Penuell Maduna, now Minister of Justice, after Maduna
wrongly accused former auditor general Henri Kluever of covering up the theft of R170-million in oil money.
Maduna refused to apologise for his mistake, even though he later admitted that
within days of his statement he knew it was incorrect.
This week Mbeki adopted a similar approach with Tshwete.
He told the National Assembly in response to questions that what happened, as he understood it, was that Tshwete was asked a question and he had responded in a
particular way.
This has not been the first time people’s names had been mentioned during an
investigation before it had been finalised. “This happens very frequently in
this country.”
He said he had personally raised his own concerns about this.
“The problem with making allegations against people in this manner is that you
create a particular image about them. You damage them. Even if six months later
it is said these people are actually innocent, the damage has been done.”
Mbeki also told the leader of the opposition, Tony Leon, that the security of
the president was not the responsibility of the president.
“There are several national security organs that have line function responsibilities for such matters. I am satisfied that the ministers responsible
for such organs will discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the
policies and the laws that govern these organs.”
He said that he had been told Matthews Phosa, Cyril Ramaphosa and Tokyo Sexwale
were convinced of their innocence and were eager that the inquiry should proceed.