Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said on Thursday it was a ‘’great day’’ for the country’s constitutional democracy after the Constitutional Court ruled that President Jacob Zuma must personally pay for the upgrades to his Nkandla residence.
Archbishop Makgoba was speaking at a graduation ceremony at the University of Witwatersrand during which he received an honorary degree.
“We live in a society based on fear. Our members of Parliament are too scared to hold the executive properly to account. Those in the executive or in public service who are alleged to have been approached by a well-known family living not too far from here – and who have allegedly been offered blandishments in return for business favours – have been too afraid to speak out about it.
“Thankfully‚ the courage of a few is breaking down the fear‚ hopefully unleashing a wave of truth-telling about corrupt influence-peddling‚ not only by one family but by other business interests too‚” the archbishop said.
He added: “And I hope that today’s Constitutional Court judgement finding that both President Zuma – in seeking to dodge the Public Protector’s findings on Nkandla – and Parliament – in seeking to protect the President – acted unlawfully‚ will give public servants and others new courage to speak out – and generate not just a wave but a tsunami of truth-telling.’’
Speaking at a press conference Public Protector‚ Thuli Madonsela‚ said it was her duty to protect the public from improper conduct.
She said the court has found that “I have done my job’’. She said she hoped her successor will do the same.
'Great day’ for country’s constitutional democracy‚ says Makgoba
Archbishop Makgoba was speaking at a graduation ceremony at the University of Witwatersrand during which he received an honorary degree.
“We live in a society based on fear. Our members of Parliament are too scared to hold the executive properly to account. Those in the executive or in public service who are alleged to have been approached by a well-known family living not too far from here – and who have allegedly been offered blandishments in return for business favours – have been too afraid to speak out about it.
“Thankfully‚ the courage of a few is breaking down the fear‚ hopefully unleashing a wave of truth-telling about corrupt influence-peddling‚ not only by one family but by other business interests too‚” the archbishop said.
He added: “And I hope that today’s Constitutional Court judgement finding that both President Zuma – in seeking to dodge the Public Protector’s findings on Nkandla – and Parliament – in seeking to protect the President – acted unlawfully‚ will give public servants and others new courage to speak out – and generate not just a wave but a tsunami of truth-telling.’’
Speaking at a press conference Public Protector‚ Thuli Madonsela‚ said it was her duty to protect the public from improper conduct.
She said the court has found that “I have done my job’’. She said she hoped her successor will do the same.
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