The
DA says the NPA's decision to prosecute DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach on
the same charges that her disciplinary hearing founded her not guilt of
is a witch hunt and the ANC playing politics.
I wonder what they would say to the DA-run Western Cape education department finding South Peninsula High School principal Brian Isaacs guilty of the same criminal charges the State (the NPA) withdrew on the merits, that is, it was unsubstantiated, last year - a witch hunt and politics?
It has happened before. Probably originating from the premier's office but handled by the HR department, they pursued a senior employee for three years with spurious disciplinary charges because this whistle-blower, in his personal capacity on a matter unrelated to his job, brought to the public's attention political influence that had been brought to bear on a so-called independent WC agency, CapeNature, and the damaging consequences to our biodiversity thereof.
Concerned about the claims, I independently confirmed the veracity of the accusation via a freedom of information application to the agency. I asked the Public Protector to investigate. While stating the matter was "politically sensitive", the PP failed to finalise the investigation (no actual confirmation since - so much for Batho Pele and administrative justice, Ms Madonsela).
The employee, using free speech enshrined in the constitution, repeatedly called Premier Helen Zille and relevant members of her cabinet to task and invented a catchphrase (refer the EFF's Zuptas) to go with his appeals, which fell on deaf ears, including in the media.
Speaking of the Guptas and political influence, in my opinion they are to the ANC what agri-business is to the DA.
I wonder what they would say to the DA-run Western Cape education department finding South Peninsula High School principal Brian Isaacs guilty of the same criminal charges the State (the NPA) withdrew on the merits, that is, it was unsubstantiated, last year - a witch hunt and politics?
It has happened before. Probably originating from the premier's office but handled by the HR department, they pursued a senior employee for three years with spurious disciplinary charges because this whistle-blower, in his personal capacity on a matter unrelated to his job, brought to the public's attention political influence that had been brought to bear on a so-called independent WC agency, CapeNature, and the damaging consequences to our biodiversity thereof.
Concerned about the claims, I independently confirmed the veracity of the accusation via a freedom of information application to the agency. I asked the Public Protector to investigate. While stating the matter was "politically sensitive", the PP failed to finalise the investigation (no actual confirmation since - so much for Batho Pele and administrative justice, Ms Madonsela).
The employee, using free speech enshrined in the constitution, repeatedly called Premier Helen Zille and relevant members of her cabinet to task and invented a catchphrase (refer the EFF's Zuptas) to go with his appeals, which fell on deaf ears, including in the media.
Speaking of the Guptas and political influence, in my opinion they are to the ANC what agri-business is to the DA.
It
appears Zille - like other DA members - despite being renowned for her
aggressive style and sharp tongue, is so thin-skinned because she took
exception to the employee's frequent outbursts. At some point one or
other of her cabinet threatened him with unspecified action for
defamation for using the B-word to describe them (the employee is also a
boer in its true meaning, by the way).
Would a loyal DA HR department head take it upon himself to institute disciplinary charges against a highly competent manager, who had no professional complaints against him, unless there was pressure from province's No. 1? Would a Waterkloof Air Force Base (a national key point) colonel give permission for the Guptas jet to land without approval, tacit or otherwise, from No. 1. I think not.
Would a loyal DA HR department head take it upon himself to institute disciplinary charges against a highly competent manager, who had no professional complaints against him, unless there was pressure from province's No. 1? Would a Waterkloof Air Force Base (a national key point) colonel give permission for the Guptas jet to land without approval, tacit or otherwise, from No. 1. I think not.
At significant personal expense the employee took the matter all the the way, via intermediate steps, to the Labour Court to clear his name. The premier's expensive taxpayer-funded advocates conceded they had no defence, like the president's expensive taxpayer-funded advocates conceded they had no case at the Constitutional Court last week.
Like the above person, Isaacs is perceived to be an irritant, as was former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene to President Jacob Zuma. But if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then the Western Cape DA government is malicious and vindictive, little different to the questionable integrity of ANC they claim to abhor.
The DA/ANC: two sides of the same tarnished coin.
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