President Thabo Mbeki steered clear on Friday of the furore over suspended National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli, opting to devote his weekly newsletter, ANC Today, to eye-care awareness week.
As readers remained in the dark on Mbeki’s own views on the controversy, he began this week’s column with: ”Those who have eyes to see, let them see!”
The president then spoke of the main cause of blindness in South Africa, which he identified as cataracts.
In the past, Mbeki has often used his newsletter on the African National Congress website to focus attention on topical events.
On occasion, he took the opportunity to take issue with, or answer to critics.
These include a spirited defence of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang against the ”sustained and merciless propaganda assault” against her.
Mbeki’s suspended Pikoli last Monday — officially due to a breakdown of trust between Pikoli and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla.
Subsequent speculation was that this happened because of a warrant of arrest Pikoli had obtained for police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
Mbeki has so far avoided any comment on the matter.
On Friday, the NPA confirmed Pikoli had indeed obtained both an arrest and a search warrant for Selebi a short while before his suspension on September 24.
Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe has since taken steps to cancel both, pending a ”review of the matter”, the NPA said.
Mbeki ended his newsletter by paying tribute to people and institutions contributing to the fight against blindness.
”What they have done and will do, to ensure that those who have eyes to see do see, makes it possible for us to say: We are proudly South African!” — Sapa