The blatant act of intimidation of the Public Protector's Office on the evening of 2 March 2010 is but yet another concerning development that draws attention to the serious erosion of South Africa's constitutional democratic credentials.

What the media is reporting as an "unauthorised raid", which the Hawks claim no prior knowledge of, comes at a rather suspicious time, considering the recent sterling job of Adv. Thuli Madonsela in exposing and reprimanding SAPS, the Department of Public Works, and Bheki Cele in particular, for irregular expenditure of taxpayer money.

Reports indicating that no documents were seized during the raid, are reminiscent of the Apartheid era tactics aimed at intimidating those who vehemently defend freedom, accountability, and transparency. Curiously, this is not the first such incident under the reign of Bheki Cele, as we are reminded of the botched persecution of Sunday Times journalist, Mzilikazi wa Afrika, for similarly treading on police big wigs' toes.

The continued heavy handed and iron fist tactics employed by SAPS only further undermines public confidence in those men and women in blue, constitutionally sworn to protect the citizens of South Africa. It is evident that the Zuma administration's continued push for the militarisation of this essential public service is finally bearing its ominous fruit.

Bheki Cele is fundamentally tainted and an embarrassment to a country that endeavours to create a post-Apartheid dispensation in which the state serves the interest of all its citizens, and not only those of a select few privy to the wheeling and dealing of the ruling elite.

The Zuma administration must act decisively and dismiss Cele with immediate effect if it is to provide substance to its repeated, empty lip service to fighting corruption and enhancing government accountability.

The Zumafication of the South African state and society is fast eroding our democracy fundamentally built on the separation of state, government and party, and is an embarrassment for a society that was once hailed by the world for its miracle transition and exemplary Constitution.

We welcome the police probe into the raid and its accompanying unashamed abuse of authority and constitutional democratic principles. We trust that the Public Protector, along with other state institutions, will be allowed to continue their efforts in support of democracy unhindered, in an environment conducive to conducting their constitutional responsibilities with freedom, fairness and without favour or intimidation.

South Africans awake daily to realities that reinforce the necessity of COPE's clarion call "In Defense of our Democracy and Constitution," and we shall continue unequivocally in protecting our hard won freedoms!

Statement issued by Phillip Dexter, MP, COPE Head of Communications, March 3 2011

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