Date: 12/02/2009

Source: Freedom Front Plus

Title: FF+: Groenewald: Speech by Freedom Front Plus MP in the debate about the report to fire Vusi Pikoli

Honourable Speaker,

If one takes away all the woolly stories of the ANC as to why Adv. Pikoli has to be fired as head of the National Prosecuting Authority, then the heart of the issue and the main reason, according to the President, was that Pikoli was a threat to national security. And why was Pikoli a threat? - because he had the audacity to arrest and prosecute the National Commissioner of Police, Jackie Selebi.

Honourable Speaker, it is clear that the honourable President is totally confused. The real threat to national security was not Pikoli but Jackie Selebi. To keep Jackie Selebi in his position as National Commissioner of Police, despite serious criminal accusations against him, was a threat to national security. It is Selebi who should have been suspended by the former President Mbeki. When it however came to Selebi, the former president reacted like the three little monkeys: I see, hear and say nothing.

I repeat:

The main reason for the suspension of Adv. Pikoli, according to the President, was that Pikoli was a threat to national security. And why was Pikoli a threat to national security? - because he had the audacity to arrest and prosecute the National Commissioner of the SAPS, Jackie Selebi.

Now Honourable Speaker, the Honourable President is totally confused. The real threat to national security was not Pikoli, it was Jackie Selebi. To keep Selebi in his position as National Commissioner of the SAPS, with serious criminal allegations against him, that was the real threat against national security. It was Selebi who was supposed to be suspended by former pres. Mbeki. But when it comes to Selebi, the President acted like the three little monkeys: I hear, see and say nothing. The fact of the matter is - Adv. Pikoli acted in the interest of national security, and for that he should receive a medal for bravery to stand up against Selebi.

We know that Adv. Pikoli will go to court and that he will win his case against the state. I challenge the honourable members of the House, that every member here today who vote in favour of the suspension of Pikoli, to personally foot the bill for the legal fees of the state so that taxpayers' money is not wasted. If members truly have any integrity they would agree to personally foot the bill for the legal fees.

If they are not prepared to carry the costs, then they are also acting like the three little monkeys which say I hear, see and say nothing. (Because Mr. Groenewald refused to withdraw the last sentence on the order of the deputy Speaker, he was ordered to leave the Assembly.)