Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon has accused President Thabo Mbeki of being a ”past master” at exonerating African National Congress leaders before they have been properly investigated.
”Lately, President Mbeki has been given credit for leading a fight against corruption in government, over the objections of his many opponents within the ruling party,” Leon wrote in his weekly newsletter on the DA website on Friday.
Allegations of corruption have become a key weapon in the fight between the pro-Mbeki and pro-Zuma (former deputy president Jacob Zuma) factions in the ANC, he said.
Many ANC officials, including several holding high public office, were spotted among the chanting crowds outside the Durban High Court last weekend, where Zuma was standing trial.
In Cape Town, senior ANC leaders, including mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo, a known ally of Zuma, lined up at the door of convicted fraudster Tony Yengeni (former ANC chief whip) to wish him well with his criminal appeal.
”President Mbeki, we are led to believe, is against this sort of behaviour. But he, too, is a past master at exonerating ANC leaders before they have been properly investigated,” Leon said.
In 1995, then deputy president Mbeki produced a report by his legal adviser declaring there was ”no evidence that [Allan] Boesak misappropriated foundation funds”.
”Boesak was, of course, convicted and imprisoned for fraud — and pardoned by President Mbeki last year, without explanation,” Leon said.
That was not the last time Mbeki had tried to block or undermine a thorough investigation of the facts, Leon claimed.
Examples of major cases of corruption linked directly or indirectly to Mbeki, but which have either been ignored or incompletely investigated, include the arms deal and the so-called Oilgate scandal, Leon claimed.
”So, for all his talk lately about fighting corruption, President Mbeki seems wary of investigations when they come too close to the Presidency.
”Those close to Mr Mbeki have also nearly always managed to evade serious investigation or punishment for their alleged misconduct.
”Far from leading the fight against corruption, President Mbeki seems to be using allegations of corruption against his internal political opponents in the ANC.
”This, in itself, is a corruption of the principle of clean government,” Leon said. — Sapa