We have detected that the browser you are using is no longer supported. As a result, some content may not display correctly.
We suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of any of the following browsers:
close notification
The
Democratic Alliance yesterday called on Justice Minister
Penuell Maduna to step down immediately, even if on temporary leave
of office.
DA MP Sheila Camerer said it increasingly looked as if Maduna would
be the first casualty of an "in-fighting battle" within the African
National Congress.
Her statement was in response to a report in the Sunday Independent
in which Maduna announced that he would not be available to serve
as minister after next year's elections.
He reportedly cited family pressures and ANC in-fighting taking its
toll.
The newspaper report followed a week in which Maduna was accused of
favouritism relating to the appointment of liquidators by his
department.
Subsequently it was announced that the Hefer Commission of
Inquiry's terms of reference have been extended to include the
minister.
President Thabo Mbeki earlier appointed the judicial commission to
investigate allegations that national director of public
prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka spied for the apartheid
government.
The allegations surfaced shortly after it was announced that
Ngcuka's Scorpions unit was investigating Deputy President Jacob
Zuma for alleged bribery related to government's multi-billion rand
arms deal.
Maduna is the line minister responsible for Ngcuka's
directorate.
Camerer said yesterday his "extraordinary threat to quit his post"
showed the measure of crises besetting the ANC and his justice
department.
"There is no doubt about the extent of the division in the ANC,"
she said.
The appointment of the Hefer Commission seemingly only served to
polarise two camps within the party further, Camerer
maintained.
"The 'accused' in the Zuma camp are increasingly coming out of the
woodwork to make accusations against their 'accusers' in the Ngcuka
and Maduna camp," she continued.
Camerer said Zuma, Ngcuka and Maduna should resign ... or at least
step aside until the commission had completed its work and
reported.
If they refused to do so, Mbeki should force them to take temporary
leave of office.
The timing of the favouritism allegations against Maduna
"inevitably leads to suspicions that they may be part of the same
fight to death in the ANC", Camerer alleged. – Sapa.
Photos
