ACDP says the MKMVA warlike threats are highly irresponsible

MEDIA RELEASE
Rev Kenneth Meshoe, M.P. and President of the ACDP
African Christian Democratic Party.
5th August 2008

ACDP says the MKMVA warlike threats are highly irresponsible, dangerous and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

*Calls on Human Rights Commission to investigate these statements concerning Jacob Zuma that threaten South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
*Calls on ANC leadership to remember their commitment to rule of law and prevail upon their members to allow due process.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rev Kenneth Meshoe, MP and President of the ACDP, today said the latest threats demanding ANC President Jacob Zuma’s charges be dropped together with the threats by ANC members are highly irresponsible, dangerous and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

"The warlike statements of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veteran's Associations (MKMVA) and some elements in the ANC regarding Mr Zuma, are clearly intended to intimidate the judiciary in order to get his case withdrawn. These threats are regrettable and totally unacceptable as they cause fear and alarm to the general public, to foreign investors as well as the international organizers and potential supporters of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Statements that have been credited to Deputy National Secretary of Umkhonto we Sizwe, Ramatuku Maphutha, such as “No Zuma, no country”, are highly irresponsible, dangerous and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. If quoted correctly, Mr Maphutha must explain to the nation what he meant by “soldiers would be in the trenches awaiting order and would be ready to challenge the system if called to do so.”

The ACDP calls upon the Human Rights Commission to investigate these statements as they threaten our constitutional democracy implying that no other political leader within the ANC, let alone a leader outside of the ANC, will be acceptable to them.

The ANC has always spoken about their commitment to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary that are entrenched in our constitution. We therefore appeal to the ANC leadership to prevail upon their members to allow the due process of law to take its course and the courts to function in a climate free of fear and political pressure. Constitutionally, no person or organ of state may interfere with functioning of the courts. We therefore expect the ANC to remind their members of this commitment and to ensure that their members do not label some court decisions as “arrogant” just because they do not agree with them.

The ACDP calls for peace and sanity to reign."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information, contact
Rev Kenneth Meshoe, M.P. and President of the ACDP,
082 962 5884

Or

Ms Libby Norton
ACDP Press Attaché,
Parliament.
07 25 70 636l
lnorton@parliament.gov.za