Top Gun – Reloaded: A Tale of Twisted Events

In yet another twisted tale of events, South African citizens find themselves bombarded with endless news reports about another verbose conspiracy plot involving top cops and infamous drug lords. If you haven’t heard about the Selebi – Agliotti fiasco by now, then you’re most likely to be living under a colossal rock; but don’t abscond from your comfort zone just yet – as this appears to be nothing short of a run – of – the – mill ruse; one that has been trial and tested time and time again.

The story plays out as such, during September 2007 the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) granted a warrant of arrest for then National Chief Commissioner – Jackie Selebi. The NPA investigated Selebi for corruption, fraud, racketeering and defeating the ends of justice. Since the accosted warrant of arrest, the dishevelled NPA spent the last twenty four months gathering rudimentary evidence in order to give Selebi his day in court.

On October 5^th of this year, the Jackie Selebi trial prepared to take flight; in none other than the South Gauteng High Court. Wherein the State has alleged Selebi to have made an estimated R1.2 million from corrupt dealings with infamous drug lord Glen Agliotti, slain mining magnate Brett Kebble and former Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach.

In order to secure a bona fide conviction against Selebi, the State will have to convince the court, beyond reasonable doubt, that Selebi received the more than R1.2 million from these malicious associations. Furthermore, the State will be obliged to prove that Selebi did in fact execute dubious favours for these men and that there was a definitive link between these payments and favours. The State would have to satisfy the aforementioned requirements if it has any aspiration of redeeming its own down trodden reputation, in terms of equitable justice, let alone establishing the convicted intentions of the glorified Mr. Selebi.

The extensive eleven day testimony strewn by Glen Agliotti, was just a dip in the sizeable pool of witnesses to be called upon by the State.  The list is said to exclude the name of Buleleni Ngcuka, but does most definitely include the name of Vusi Pikoli. One can brood over the notion that in order to stave off conviction Selebi will have to discredit a fair number of the witnesses on the State’s list. It seems feasible that Selebi is attacking the credibility of Ngcuka and Pikoli not so much in an attempt merely to discredit them, but rather to try and undermine the credibility of the evidence provided by key witnesses who had concluded plea bargains with the State –  including Agliotti and Rautenbach, who have depositions of first hand evidence of any favours done by Selebi – that is of course if favours were indeed done.

However, Selebi has affirmed his probabilities having himself stated, “I was always worried whether any court, after having read the allegations against me in the press, would have the ability to completely separate the true facts from the false allegations in the smear campaign. That of course would have a serious bearing on evaluation of evidence and the credibility of witnesses.” The Selebi defence therefore appears to be more dexterous than many are lead to believe. If the plea bargains can be attacked and the credibility of the witnesses who entered into such plea bargains can be destroyed, then Selebi might have a much better chance of being wholly acquitted.

The facts appear to be all well and good; piloting news junkies in favour of a nail biting climax. But let’s take a step back and bask in the liberty of sharpening the blunt end of this political knife. Over the past several years, various political high flyers have waltzed in and out of courtrooms, no doubt, in their Versace suits and treated crocodile leather loafers. Each case convoluted with its own distorted saga of fraud, corruption and all the rest that follows suit. Each plot appearing to be worse than the one preceding it. And with each case citizens are bellowed in mounds of superfluous arguments and counter arguments yet only to be rewarded with an ascetic acquittal.

Money and power are robust concepts, but at the very core it is money and power that enlighten the rule of law. The political ramblings of average citizens are no less instituted, though with not half as much oomph as that of the rich and powerful. Founded, it may be that corruption trials are no easy task, but given the added pressure of investigating the likes of prominent commanding officers and head’s of state could only impede the necessity for justice.

The fact of the matter is not whether Jackie Selebi did or did not nonchalantly abuse his position of power for his own material gain, at the expense of the State. Instead, we question whether your suit has to be exclusively from Versace, in order for you to be wholly acquitted? As Christmas looms ever so closely, the system should consider the prospect of giving back to the people. Ideally, grant tax – payers their due, acquit Mr. Selebi before Christmas and pick a new figurehead in anticipation of all the gifts adorned by the coming of a new year – Kirsten Nematandani, our new SAFA head, could just be the next grandee to be prosecuted, perhaps just in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – no less, a true tale of twisted ends!