The justice department is still considering Dr Allan Boesak’s application for a presidential pardon as the former anti-apartheid cleric moves towards a return to politics.
Speaking by telephone on Tuesday, Boesak said he had yet to receive a reply to his application made to President Thabo Mbeki in July. ”I have not heard anything,” he said.
Justice Minister Penuell Maduna’s representative Paul Setsetse said Boesak’s application had not been finalised and was still under consideration. If it was approved, it would then be sent to Mbeki for his consideration.
Setsetse said he could not say when this was likely to happen.
However, Boesak appears set to be on the verge of a return to political life with his nomination to the African National Congress’ (ANC) powerful National Executive Committee (NEC).
His nomination had come as a ”complete surprise”, he said on Tuesday. He had been out of politics for almost 10 years, following his selection as South African ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva in 1994. But this posting was scuppered when fraud and theft charges were brought against him.
Boesak said his nomination to the NEC, apparently by a number of provinces, was a compliment that he could not simply brush off.
It was a show of confidence in him. ”That is uplifting and I really appreciate it.”
It was an honour to be nominated to the ANC’s highest decision-making body, he said. He had not received any official notification, but was unsure of the procedure and if this was necessary.
Boesak said he was currently trying to arrange a meeting with the ANC leadership. The ANC’s national conference is scheduled to take place in Stellenbosch next week.
Boesak said he was keeping himself quite busy at the moment with preaching and speaking engagements, as well as work for the Institute of Theology and Public Life in Cape Town.
There has been much speculation that he is to be offered ”a high government post, possibly in the diplomatic service”.
But government communications chief Joel Netshitenzhe said recently he was unaware of any plans to appoint Boesak in a governmental position, either locally or abroad.
Boesak applied for the presidential pardon, because with a criminal record many doors would remain closed to him.
He was convicted of fraud and theft in May 2000 and sentenced to three years imprisonment. He was released on parole in the middle of last year, but his parole period came to an end in July.
With the grant of a presidential pardon, an individual’s criminal record is expunged in its entirety. – Sapa