ANC STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO ANCYL IN THE NORTHERN CAPE

The African National Congress (ANC) strongly condemns the rubbishing by the Northern Cape African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of National Prosecutions Director Menzi Simelane and the Hawks following the arrest of ANC Northern Cape Chairperson, comrade John Block (see here).

Not only is the ANCYL of the Northern Cape out of line for rubbishing the state security agencies and the courts of law but should also publicly apologise to Advocate Simelane for calling him "a rented dog of a political conspiracy". We are also of the view that comrade Block has not yet had his day in a court of law to defend himself against allegations before him. What then gives the ANCYL in the Northern Cape the right to suddenly qualify themselves as judges in this matter?

It is our belief in the workings of constitutional democracy that we have always maintained that comrade Block is innocent until proven guilty. Regardless of anyone's stature or position one holds in the ANC, Government or society, no one is above the law. South Africa has a strong judiciary and effective organs of State security whose mandate should be carried out freely without hindrance.

There is no truth in the assertion by the ANCYL leadership in the Northern Cape that organs of state security like the NPA and Hawks have been set up to operate as private armies of individual or groupings other than putting the security interests of the country first. We, therefore, wish to reaffirm our full confidence in Advocate Simelane and the Hawks for having carried out their work with diligence and without fear or favour.

We call on all South Africans to respect the sub judice rule and let the law run its course without speculating on the investigation and outcome of the trial involving comrade Block who has the ANC's full support. No individual, other than the courts of law have a right to decide whether there is prima facie evidence against anyone.

Statement issued by Jackson Mathembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, November 9 2010

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