The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has slammed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for its reaction to the utterings of ANCYL spokesperson Zizi Kodwa to Jacob Zuma supporters on Wednesday.
”The ANC Youth League is not surprised at the unfortunate response of the NPA to our criticism of its conduct,” the ANCYL said in a statement on Friday.
”Typical of an apartheid special branch, the NPA has sought to use law mischievously to suit its end, and to intimidate those who criticise it,” ANCYL said.
On Wednesday the NPA took issue with the reported utterings of Kodwa in attacking NPA chief Vusi Pikoli.
He apparently told a crowd gathering outside the Johannesburg High Court that they should ”hit dogs very hard to force their owner and handler to come out in the open”. He also told the crowd to hit Pikoli, who is national director of public prosecutions and head of the NPA, and other individuals.
The NPA was considering laying a charge of incitement with the South African Police Service against Kodwa.
”We reiterate our criticism about the NPA’s conduct and its lack of independency without undue pressure. Respect is not something that is conferred, it is earned; the actions of the NPA constitute an incitement of the greatest disorder,” the ANCYL statement read.
”Despite the general condemnation of the manner in which the NPA has violated the rights of Jacob Zuma for example, the Human Rights Commission never said a word to defend his human rights.”
ANCYL added it was interesting to see the Human Rights Commission also joining ”this club of cowards who undermine our constitution under the facade of rule of law. Our democracy and the Constitution must be defended against political cannibals.”
The statement was signed by Sihle Zikalala, the ANCYL secretary general. — Sapa