It is improbable that Lindiwe Sisulu abused the chartered flights
In the current outgoing parliament, there are only two outstanding speech makers, Minister Trevor Manuel and the Democratic Alliance (DA) MP David Maynier. Manuel and Maynier aren't just good in speech delivery, they are very principled politicians who pursue the truth relentlessly. They have endured insults thanks to their thick skins.
Manuel was recently described as a free agent by the African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe while Maynier was instructed in parliament by Lindiwe Sisulu to take his "flea-infested body and sit down". I have no doubt that these two politicians are aware of words of wisdom that Frans Cronje of the South African Institute of Race Relations once shared with me: "Any boxer who gets into a ring without expecting to be punched will be foolish". Whereas Manuel will be leaving the parliamentary politics, Maynier will be going back to serve in the 5th democratic parliament of the Republic.
I was not surprised that Maynier is one of the candidates who occupy a top spot in the DA parliamentary list. Despite Sisulu's (unparliamentarily) insults, Maynier has persistently continued to be a thorn in the side of ANC ministers. Amongst others, he had demanded information regarding the number of times Lindiwe Sisulu had used the chartered flights on a Gulfstream jet when she was still the defence minister and the cost thereof.
Lindiwe Sisulu has always insisted that she took only 35 trips in the private jet instead of 205 flights as reported by the current defence minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. According to the Sunday Times, this matter has created a "bitter feud" between Sisulu and Mapisa-Nqakula. So far, I am agreeable to Sisulu's version. The calculation of Lindiwe Sisulu's trips was flawed.
The Sunday Times wrote: "Documents show that on one occasion, the jet took off from Lanseria airport, landed at Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town, headed to Durban, then on to Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria and returned to Lanseria". Mapisa-Nqakula is being disingenuous by saying that this constitutes four trips. I fully agree with Sisulu, this represents one trip.
My other reason for being on Sisulu's side is that it's just not in her blood to abuse public resources; she comes from a very disciplined family that put emphasis on serving humanity. Lindiwe's father, Walter Sisulu, the co-founder of the ANC Youth League and Nelson Mandela's mentor is a good example of how cadres should behave. He successfully convinced the ANC to allow Indians, whites, and coloureds to take membership.
Sisulu never wanted any reward for the role he played in the struggle against the apartheid system. He actually refused to serve both in parliament and the government. After the 1994 elections Sisulu continued to frequent the ANC Head Offices in Johannesburg where he was a Deputy President despite the fact that he was 82 years old.
Walter Sisulu's selflessness and humility seem to have rubbed off on his family members. His children and grandchildren do not seem to have any sense of entitlement. They are highly educated and are hard workers. When Sisulu's son, the late Zwelakhe was appointed the Group Chief Executive Officer of the SABC, it had nothing to do with his surname.
Zwelakhe had huge experience in media where he served for many years as journalist and editor. He did a good job at the SABC and the current circus of Luthuli House managing the public broadcaster by remote control did not exist at that time. After leaving the SABC he pursued a very successful business career. He didn't use his liberation struggle credentials, political connections and surname to win government tenders.
Max Sisulu also has the humility of his father. When he worked in the private sector for Denel and later on Sasol, he never used his struggle credentials, political connections or surname to carve a glittering corporate position for himself. I was personally sad when Max Sisulu, who holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance, was overlooked to succeed Flip Botha as the Denel CEO in March 2003.
As Denel's Deputy CEO, Max Sisulu brought political clout and reportedly increased its order book substantially. It was then not fair to sideline him when Botha left. Max Sisulu left quietly and joined Sasol as a General Manager and a member of its Group Executive Committee. Again I was surprised that Sasol did not make him an Executive Director. But like a true Sisulu, Max never demanded position and status.
I was glad when the ANC elected him as the Speaker of the National Assembly. It is a senior position which is equivalent to that of the Deputy President of the Republic. Like a true son of Walter Sisulu and a disciplined cadre of the movement, Max is too humble to fight for positions despite his well-earned and deserved credentials.
He could easily have lobbied to become the Deputy President of the Republic under Zuma and possibly get the position. He comes from the ANC's ‘royal family' and is politically senior to everyone in the ANC's National Executive Committee, except Jacob Zuma and Pallo Jordan.
Some of Walter Sisulu's grandchildren are involved in initiatives to improve the lives of the people, especially the poor.
Based on the facts revealed so far and the kind of family in which she comes from, it is improbable that Lindiwe Sisulu could have undertaken 203 flights on private jets. Be that as it may be, Maynier should continue to demand answers and accountability from the Zuma and his ministers.
Dagada is development economist based at the Wits Business School. You can follow him on Twitter: @Rabelani_Dagada
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