President Thabo Mbeki was caught off guard on Tuesday when asked questions at a media photo opportunity at the Union Buildings in Pretoria about the possible arrest of police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
Responding to questions from journalists by asking more questions, Mbeki queried whether it was a president’s job to issue warrants of arrest, at which the journalist asking the question responded ”no”.
”So why do you ask it of this one?” Mbeki inquired.
The short but lively impromptu question-and-answer session started with Mbeki being asked whether he had seen a warrant of arrest for Selebi.
”You cannot be serious. Have you ever heard of a president issuing a warrant?” a bemused Mbeki asked.
When he was pushed for an answer, he said the questions should be asked of prosecutors.
Shortly afterwards Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad intervened and journalists were ushered out of a room where he was meeting the presidential working group on trade unions.
”You are out of order, stop it, you are out of order,” Pahad said as officials escorted journalists out of the room.
After being taken out of the room, journalists were told that a media briefing on the outcome of Mbeki’s interaction with union leaders was cancelled.
The incident comes as acting Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe told 702 Talk Radio that the Scorpions were probing Selebi.
He did not want to confirm or deny the existence of the warrant. — Sapa