African National Congress veteran and former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils on Monday, said that President Jacob Zuma had no interest in solving the political violence in KwaZulu-Natal.
“What I find so incredible is that Jacob Zuma actually came to prominence in South Africa in part for the role he played in neutralising violence in the then Natal,” said Kasrils during a question and answer session at the KZN launch of his latest book, “A simple man – Kasrils and the Zuma enigma”.
Speaking while seated alongside former Constitutional Court justice Zac Yacoob, who engaged with Kasrils about the book, the former Umkhonto we Sizwe intelligence head said that when Zuma worked with a team to bring political peace to the province in the early 90s, he was “on the ball and doing the job”.
“So he showed that he could achieve success; since then, he has shown absolutely no interest whatsoever in his own province and what is happening anywhere in this province,” said Kasrils.
Kasrils also gave the police a tongue-lashing, saying that eradicating the province’s political killings was attainable through decent policing and a commitment to serve.
Escalating political violence in the province has resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people since last year, mostly ANC and municipal officials.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) are offering a reward of up to R450,000 for information related to the killings, a special task team has been established and the Moerane Commission of inquiry is investigating politically motivated killings in the province since 2011.
Despite this, the killings continue, with the latest being Lungisani Mnguni, who was gunned down in the Enkanyezini area of Umkhabathini Local Municipality on Monday morning by unknown assailants. The Moses Mabhida region ANC called Mnguni’s death an assassination.
Dealing with a “dysfunctional” police force and intelligence services was like dealing with a dysfunctional government, he said. People needed the will and commitment to serve instead of using enforcement agencies for their own ends.
“It has got so rotten. They are allowing this to happen. The answer to all of this is that we as South Africans have to get involved. It's no good sitting at home while people are protesting against Zuma,” he said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
