/ 21 November 2008

Blue-light controversy

Opposition parties are having a field day with Constable Hlanganani Nxumalo, the policeman who apparently shot a tyre of a car that was a little slow to move out his vehicle’s way on the N3 highway in KwaZulu-Natal last weekend.

Nxumalo now faces eight charges of attempted murder after the car at which he shot veered into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle.

It has since emerged that the VIP drivers were speeding to pick up provincial minister for social development Meshack Radebe.

Radebe finally got around to visiting the victims and tendering an apology on Wednesday, but also took the opportunity to accuse opposition parties of politicising the incident.

“A life could have been lost. When the creator made us, he did not make us as UDM, IFP or DA. He made us as human beings. They [the opposition parties] don’t show sympathy.”

More damningly, Radebe accused the media of blowing the incident out of proportion.

“How can an incident that happened 50km away from me have anything to do with me?” the minister asked this week.

Radebe also claimed that the media were out to “get him”. Similar incidents had taken place involving his Inkatha Freedom Party “predecessors”, but the media had not made much of this.

Radebe appears to be trying to dodge the issue. Nxumalo is clearly associated with him, and to insist otherwise is disingenuous. What climate exists in Radebe’s department, or perhaps the VIP unit, that could allow a policeman to fire on a car that was too slow in getting out of the way?

This incident comes at an unfortunate time for the African National Congress (ANC). Every event is now seen through the prism of the forthcoming elections and the breakaway Congress of the People (Cope) party.

The ruling party is also still trying to win exclusive rights to the name Congress of the People. Cope this week refused to stop using the name, and the ANC said it may launch another round of litigation after the ANC’s application against the breakaway party’s use of a previous name was postponed indefinitely in the Pretoria High Court.

What is clear is that the new party is not going to go away, and the ANC’s continued attempts at litigation will probably be construed as spoiling tactics.

FULL SPEED AHEAD NOT SO FAST
Bafana Bafana
Bafana Bafana ended the year on a high this week, beating highly rated Cameroon 3-2 in a thrilling Nelson Mandela Challenge match. Bafana have endured a torrid year, failing to qualify for the continental showpiece, the Africa Cup of Nations. They have now won four in a row, giving hope to long-suffering supporters that better days lie ahead.
Constable Hlanganani Nxumalo
If allegations against this constable prove correct — that he in fact did fire his gun at a slow-moving car, which then caused an accident in which almost a dozen people were injured — then he should, at the very least, be drummed out of the police force. If true, this constable is a disgrace to the police force and to humanity in general.

Most-read stories

November 13 to November 19

1. Can Shikota Cope?
A month before its formal launch, Mosiuoa Lekota’s Congress of the People (Cope) is facing internal tensions, according to sources in the movement. But the leadership moved speedily this week to brush off talk of divisions as ANC propaganda.

2. Zuma raps Malema over ‘security guard’ comment
African National Congress president Jacob Zuma says he has advised Youth League president Julius Malema to desist from making controversial statements.

3. Malema nettled by ANC breakaway party
Those leaving the ANC to join the breakaway Congress of the People movement are a disappointment, not only to themselves but to their wives and families, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Thursday.

4. Cope nails colours to the mast
The Congress of People (Cope) was ready to contest the elections in 2009, Mbhazima Shilowa, the party’s deputy chairperson, said on Saturday.

5. My dearest Comrade Barack —
It is with great joy that I write this letter to congratulate you on your massive victory in the United States Presidential elections.

6. Mantashe scraps with NPA over Zuma judgement
African National Congress general secretary Gwede Mantashe has sharply attacked National Prosecution Authority director Mokotedi Mpshe over comments he made to the media about Judge Chris Nicholson’s ruling.

7. Hillary Clinton emerges as US State Dept candidate
Senator Hillary Clinton emerged on Thursday as a candidate to be US secretary of state for Barack Obama, months after he defeated her in an intense contest for the Democratic presidential nomination.

8. Smuts Ngonyama cuts ties with ANC
Former African National Congress (ANC) communications chief Smuts Ngonyama will resign from the ruling party on Thursday, he said.

9. Will Snuki be snuffed?
The SABC could have an interim board by early next month, with indications that it might include trade unionists Randall Howard and Cunningham Ngcukana.

10. Ngonyama resigns from ANC over ‘disrespect’
Smuts Ngonyama — former African National Congress chief of communications — said he had resigned because he was no longer able to “tolerate or embrace” the recent disrespect of authority in the party.