Political response to Selebi’s extended leave of absence

By Celeste Ganga and Rhodé Marshall
14 January 2008

This past weekend saw the national police chief, Jackie Selebi step down as the Interpol president and also to take extended leave of absence from his job as the country's top cop.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has indicated that Selebi will be charged in connection with the alleged payments he received from convicted drug smuggler Glen Agliotti, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

There has been even more controversy after Selebi approached the Pretoria High Court last week in his personal capacity, to prevent the NPA of charging him. The request was denied.

This is what political parties had to say about Selebi’s decision to step down from his positions.

• Sandra Botha – Parliamentary leader for the Democratic Alliance: "The only possible thing that Commissioner Selebi could have done was to resign from Interpol. For too long this has been allowed to drag on with him being under a huge cloud of suspicion for being involved in fraudulent and corrupt activities. It’s been an embarrassment I’m sure for Interpol and it’s been an embarrassment for South Africa that this is our representative internationally and no other cause was open to Commissioner Selebi but to resign now that the fact of his charges are in the open."
  
• Patricia de Lille – Independent Democrats leader: "The ID have welcomed the stepping down of Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi from Interpol especially in view of the fact that he has handed over confidential information to the criminal underworld and bringing the Interpol into disrepute. We also want Mbeki to answer – what does he mean by putting him on ‘extended leave’, we want to know whether he’s going to be paid or not because we feel that he should not be paid. If the allegations against him are true then he is certainly being a disgrace to South Africa and the world."
  
• Bantu Holomisa – United Democratic Movement leader:" The UDM welcomes the decision to give Jackie Selebi an extended leave. I hope that the NPA will finish the case soon so that Selebi, the policemen and his family (Selebi family) as well as the country knows his fate."
  
• Tiyani Rikhotso – Spokesperson for the African National Congress refused to comment.