Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke slams greedy politicians

18 March 2016

Durban – Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke on Thursday criticised politicians, saying they needed to curtail their greed.

Moseneke was speaking at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s new exhibition, titled My Constitution.

"Some politicians have merged their private greed with their public obligations," he said.

The exhibition looks at the country’s post-apartheid Constitution through the eyes of the youth.

Over the past six months, 96 young people from around the country were consulted in putting the exhibition together.  

Moseneke addressed the gathering on the successes and challenges of the Constitution which had the responsibility, "above all, to hold the executive to account".

Moseneke, who spent ten years on Robben Island, also addressed the controversial claim that late former president Nelson Mandela had sold out the country.

"This is baseless… South Africa’s true challenge was not a paucity of vision or re-imagined political and social values.

"Our dream is deferred, but only because those tasked with helping realise it have been fiddling. They have jettisoned the centuries old ideals for freedom, inclusivity and justice for cleptocracy and patronage.

"They chose to forget that the public purse derives from our joint contributions and is sacrosanct. It may be disbursed only to advance public good.

"They have forgotten that all public power derives from the people. And once given by the people, all power must be deployed exclusively to the benefit of the people and no one else. Power must be used lawfully and only to create a better life for all."

"Mr Mandela and other great freedom fighters have not sold out. They laid down beginnings that leave you with the clear mission to change your world within the values of a great Constitution," he said. 

This article first appeared on News24, see here.