Some of the media were ignoring Brett Kebble’s fundamental right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, said Essop Pahad, Minister in the Presidency, at the mining magnate’s funeral in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Pahad said Kebble’s murder has thrown into sharp relief the relationship between rights and responsibilities under the South African Constitution.
Pahad said that in death, as in life, Kebble was a figure who generated intense controversy. He said that unfortunately over the past few days South Africa had witnessed media speculation about Kebble that seemed to border on the obsessive.
He said articles that appeared to summarily both try and convict Kebble of past wrongdoing made a casualty of the entire Kebble family.
”The question does arise, are some of us so losing our humanity and sensitivity to pain that we do not think of the impact of what we say and write might have on the family?” Pahad asked.
He said some media reports had made a casualty of the rule of law and that it was imperative that both process and the law should take their course.
”Indeed we must be vigilant in our sight against crime but we must also be mindful that South Africa has lost a dedicated son against whom no case has currently been proved,” Pahad said.
In a constitutional democracy such as South Africa’s, one was presumed innocent until proven guilty and accorded the right to a fair trial in an impartial court of law.
”Brett it appears in death was not accorded these fundamental human rights.”
‘He could have taught me so much’
The three oldest children of Kebble reminisced briefly about their father at the funeral.
”My dad was a soft-hearted person. My dad was a family man. Some people made negative comments about him, but they didn’t know him the way we and his friends knew him,” said eldest son, teenager Matthew, in a tribute to his father.
Kebble (41) was shot dead in Melrose, Johannesburg, on Tuesday last week on his way to dinner.
Matthew said every moment of the limited time the four siblings — Andrew, Hannah and youngest Elizabeth — could spend with their Dad was special.
”Some of my best memories were of him making my Mom [Ingrid] tea in bed… Also of him making crumpets and pancakes for my friends and I.”
Matthew said his father was ”extraordinarily talented” and could play the piano ”like a pro, he cooked like a chef, he loved his garden and he understood politics and business”.
Matthew said what stood out the most for him was the way his father was generous, kind, compassionate and caring, ”even to his own detriment”.
”I don’t think that there’s ever been a person that knew so much about life at the age of 41, which is a pity as he could have taught me so much.”
Matthew said the majority of people surrounding his father were supporters, but unfortunately, his death was the ”unspeakable action” of a few of those who were not.
”Knowing my Dad, he would probably forgive those who harmed him,” said Matthew.
Earlier Andrew and Hannah also paid tribute to their father. – Sapa