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Reply to
the
Mail &
Guardian
on the
article
and
editorial
on
Special
Advisor
Saths
Moodley
Reasons
that are
fundamental
to the
building
of our
South
African
nation
and
democracy
compel
me to
respond
to the
Mail
&
Guardian’s
report
and
editorial
(April
29-May
5,
2005).
To
question
my
appointment
of Saths
Moodley
as one
of my
Special
Advisors
they
highlighted
his role
in 1997,
as Chair
of the
Mpumalanga
Provincial
Housing
Board
which
approved
a
housing
contract
to
Motheo.
First, I
support
the
important
principle
that
people
in
positions
of
leadership
–
whether
in the
public
or the
private
sector –
are
expected
to take
responsibility
for any
wrongdoing
in the
institutions
they
lead.
This is
a key
principle
of good
governance
and
corporate
responsibility
that
government
upholds.
To the
extent
then
that
there
was any
finding
by the
Auditor
General
and the
Dreyer
Commission
of
irregularity
that
Moodley
was
blamed
for as
Chairperson
of the
Mpumalanga
Provincial
Housing
Board, I
could
have no
bone to
pick if
it is
accurately
pointed
out that
he
should
have
exercised
more
care and
scrutiny
during
his
tenure.
Unfortunately,
the
Mail &
Guardian
went
beyond
this and
directed
instead
aspersions
that go
well
beyond
reminding
us of
this
principle.
Secondly,
the
Mail &
Guardian
took the
Auditor
General
and the
Dreyer
Commission’s
criticism
of
Moodley
and
turned
it into
a
finding
of guilt
for some
unstated
crime.
All of
us have
the
right to
the
presumption
of
innocence.
This
provides
an
important
safeguard
against
arbitrary
justice
based on
suspicion
and
allegations.
I can
therefore
never
consider
it fair
that
criticism
should
be
elevated
to the
level of
a breach
of law.
Thirdly,
the
Public
Protector
as well
as the
Auditor
General
are
constitutional
offices
whose
work
ought to
enjoy
respect
from all
of us to
help
strengthen
democracy.
They
should
be
protected
from
gratuitous
misrepresentations.
The
reports
of both
institutions
never
found
Moodley
guilty
of
corruption.
I
encourage
the
public
to read
their
reports
so as
not to
be
misled
by the
spin the
Mail
&
Guardian
gave to
the
findings
on what
Moodley
should
have
done or
did not
do.
Fourthly,
and for
me here
is the
crux why
the
Mail &
Guardian
consistently
fails
South
Africa’s
young
constitutional
democracy.
We are
being
called
upon to
tear
into
pieces
the
founding
values
that
have
made
South
Africa a
shining
light in
a world
that
puts
revenge
before
humane
punishment
and the
correction
of those
who may
do wrong
to
society.
Even
assuming
for the
sake of
argument
that
Moodley
was
found
guilty
of
wrongdoing
and was
therefore
subjected
to
appropriate
sanction,
the
question
arises
whether
should
his
unquestionable
expertise
and
professionalism
in
housing
be
eternally
haunted
and
destroyed?
Surely,
this is
not the
choice
South
Africa
made in
moving
from
apartheid
to a
humane
society
based on
human
dignity,
democracy
and
justice.
More
than
once,
our
Constitutional
Court
reminded
us that
wrong-doers
do not
cease to
be human
beings
and do
not
deserve
trashing
and
dumping
in
rubbish
heaps.
Why,
therefore,
is the
Mail
&
Guardian
failing
to build
on this
instead
of
spreading
hostility
and
vindictiveness
towards
those
who are
seen to
be close
to the
ANC or
government?
I
sincerely
hope
that as
we grow
with
every
experience,
the
Mail &
Guardian,
itself,
will
grow
beyond
this
image.
I made
an
informed
choice
to have
Moodley
as my
Special
Advisor.
This was
based on
his
expertise
and
professional
attributes.
I was
very
much
aware of
the
reports
of the
Auditor
General,
the
Dreyer
Commission
and the
Public
Protector’s
when I
made the
decision.
In
addition,
I was
guided
by the
founding
values
of the
ANC and
our new
nation.
__________________
Lindiwe
N Sisulu
Minister
of
Housing |