Sundaytimes Online
Monday, November 20, 2006
We're inviting our readers to join an Email Forum on the Kebble/Agliotti/Selebi story
YOUR views on the arrest of Glenn Agliotti as a suspect in the Kebble murder inquiry, and Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi's friendship with Agliotti
Can Cosatu and the ANCYL please speak out on Selebi, Daniel Darkey requests:
"The silence of the ANCYL and COSATU on the unfolding drama involving Police Chief Jackie Selebi and the Giants of the underworld is deafening. It would appear that Vavi and the Young Lions are sitting on the fence, waiting for President Mbeki to make a false move - such as suspend or not suspend Selebi - so they could jump on him and mercilessly devour him.
These two organisations always have such strong opinions on issues such as the current one. Unfortunately their opinions always come in as a reaction rather than pro-action. The latter would have been useful advice. Am sure President Mbeki would value their opinions and would take such into consideration if they come in good time.
Dear Vavi, this is the time to let your position be known on whether Jackie Selebi should resigne, be fired or be left alone.
The whole country, with bated breath, humbly await your invaluable opinion on good old Jackie."
Mosito Raphela writes:
"Does Mr. Selebi really mean that he did not know about Agliotti's troubled flirtation with the law? If he is sincere and candid in his claims then heaven help us all. Because he is unwittingly reflecting on SAPS 's (in)ability to gather and disseminate intelligence on crime. But then again it is oxymoronic to speak of Police Service and intelligence in the same sentence!
Now that he knows, does Mr. Selebi honestly believe that his friendship with Mr. Agliotti is just a minor irritation that can be wished away? Where is integrity in the whole matter? Surely it can not be reasonably expected that his underlings will investigate without fear or favour. What if they stumble across information that is potentially damaging to their boss?
Mr. Selebi's ranting and raving is in simple terms, breathtakingly arrogant. He will do well to convince the birds.
In a normal democracy, a police chief finding himself in similar circumstances will proffer his unsolicited resignation. We would not even require a commission of inquiry!
Elsewhere Mr. Selebi argues that if his son were hypothetically involved in crime, there would be no conflict of interest. Maybe so, but show some humility, Sir."
From Thato Tjabadi:
"Dear Editor
I'm not sure if this latest hot fashion trend has come to your attention yet. If not, let me kindly bring it to your roving media attention that powerful businessmen do not befriend just anyone. Whenever they become friends with someone, one thing is for sure they expect to benefit in one way or another from that relationship. And they would go to great lengths to get whatever they're looking for. Agliotti clearly knew that ...he would need protection from within the police in order to successfully further his selfish business shenanigans. The protection mustn't be from just anyone (as I made it clear above), but the most powerful individual whom his orders are followed without any questions.
Was it just a coincidence that Agliotti called Selebi just a few hours after Kebble's murder?... Only Agliotti and Selebi can make this clear to the nation. Selebi insist that he met Agliotti to discuss "social" issues and I won't argue with this version. But I want to tell Selebi that what is "social" to him might not necessarily be "social" to the nation.
In conclusion, let's politely ask the Police Ministry to do the same with Selebi as the intelligence ministry did with Masethla and leave Mbeki out of this, for a change.
Doesn't it puzzle you that the police have been investigating the murder for a year now and eventually the Scorpions are the ones that make an arrest? And you think that Selebi's (and his friends) desperate fight to have the Scorpions to fall under his wing was just an innocent "social" call."
Sent in by Morgan Phaahla, Ekurhuleni
"I want to apply a principle of one person's contravention does not implicate the other to protect the credibility and dignity of our Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi from the alleged misdeeds of his friend Glen Agliotti. However, Selebi as the head of the police, was expected to observe the code of ethics of the South African Police Service. Any breach of the principles contained in the code gives the public a right to raise some concerns about allegations of crimes or criminal activities involving the Police Commissioner. What remains a difficult question is whether Selebi had a prior knowledge of Agliotti's involvement in the brutal murder of Brett Kebble. It will be difficult to prove it unless otherwise corroborated with credible evidence. It has been over year since Kebble was murdered and Selebi's relationship with Agliotti dates back to years immemorial. We shall put our faith in the law enforcement agencies to resolve Kebble's murder case."
Hands up to the Scorpions, writes Thabiso:
A hand of applause. Well done to the Scorpions. Whether Scorpions investigators are products of the former apartheid regime or not, what matters is they fight people who want to take advantage of our young beautiful democracy and make it as if they are the only ones who fought during the days of struggle. Even stone throwers were fighting that filthy regime. Everything reminds me of the books by Ngugi wa Thiong in Kenya. But at least this time we have got the sting of the Scorpions on our side. Birds of the same feathers flock together. I mean it does not make sense if one associates with somebody and call him your friend and not know what he does for a living. All the people who have been calling for the disbandment of the Scorpions have hidden skeletons in their closet, including Charles Nqakula.
Siv in London writes:
"If you are in a position of power in government you need to understand that if you associate with criminals you are going to get whacked. There is no need for further proof, if Jackie says Glenn was his friend, that's it, he needs to go. As head of the police, there is no way in hell that he did not know that Agliotti was a shady guy, there is no excuse for their relationship, he needs to go.
Job well done to the Scorpions, keep up the good work. Nobody is above the law, this message needs to be made loud and clear."
Johann H Claassen from Paarl asks:
"Another general corrupted relationship?"
Dennis Lekaka from Limpopo writes:
"It has emerged controversially that there is existence of friendship between Selebi and Agloitti, while Agloitti is the main suspect in the brutal murder of Brett Kebble. Now is the time for President Thabo Mbeki to release Jackie Selebi from his duties as the National Police Commissioner. If Mbeki is capable of applying fairness within his constitutional capacity, Selebi must be fired and the Zuma and Shaik precedent (should) be applied in the Selebi controversy by virtue of the fact that Agloitti has appeared in a court of law."
Kgale Funky Maila - Pretoria
"For those who call for the disbandment of Directorate of Special Operations [Scorpions], they need their heads examined.
It has been very clear the way Sunday Times was following the relationship between Selebi and Agliotti, that something is fishy here. There is no fire without a smoke... He is a shame to the justice system of our country...
Good job Scorpions, you have public sympathy and support."
It's all there for everyone to see, says Chris Bathembu:
"To begin with the South African Police, under Commissioner Selebi, have been dragging their heels in this Brett Kebble case... Recently, it has been revealed that Agliotti and Selebi are impinchi. Kebble's father tells SABC radio that he is surprised that the Scorpions made an arrest while it was the SAPS that has been investigating the case all along.
It would be naïve to say Selebi didn't know that the man he is associated with was a suspected underworld drug lord. What kind of relationship would a police chief have with someone of Agliotti's character (as the man has been described in the media)?
Please take note of this and make your (own) judgement: Police have been 'investigating' the Kebble murder for over a year now with no breakthrough whatsoever... The Scorpions have made the arrest.
As far as I'm concerned, where there's smoke there is fire. Selebi has got a lot of questions to answer. As for President Thabo Mbeki, he's got a duty to fulfill - that is to suspend Selebi until he has given South Africans enough reason to be confident in him again."
Sydney Mhlanga kicks off the debate, writing:
"Thank you for allowing us to comment on this issue. From my point of view it will be fair for our President to open an inquiry between the friendship of Police Commissioner and Glen Agliotti. Should they find that there was a corrupt (relationship) between the two, then Mr Selebi should be relieved from his duties and a case should be opened against him. We cannot have a Police Commissioner who is sharing a bed with criminals. In this case, (everyone in) the office of the commissioner should step down.
They have set a standard by taking the Deputy President of the ANC to court, concerning the friendship between him and Shaik, and it was found that there was general corruption between the two, although the Judge is denying the statement now.
I am calling our President to go on and fight (any) corruption (there may be, involving any) people who are holding good positions in the government."
Background:
Controversial businessman Glen Agliotti has been arrested in connection with the murder of mining boss Brett Kebble. Agliotti is known to be an associate of our Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi, but so far Government has declined to open any kind of inquiry into this association.
Even today, with Agliotti's arrest, so far no-one in authority is willing to publicly question the moral and ethical problems surrounding the police chief's link with him.
What do YOU think of all of this? Should Jackie Selebi step down until his position can be clarified? Should society be pressuring Government to do more? Do you disagree with this point of view? Whatever your thoughts, we'd like to hear them.
Vote in the Opinion Poll on the home page or send us an email at tellus@sundaytimes.co.za
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