Museum of Military History case: Ministers concede liability but fail to apologise

Four years ago the Democratic Alliance (DA) suggested that Cabinet had real work to do, rather than embarking on campaigns which left it "wiping the cultural egg off its face as our gallant SAPS and Military Intelligence perpetuated the cold-war myth by bravely invading the South African National Museum of Military History". The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes it was inevitable that the Ministers of Defence and Safety and Security would have to concede liability and pay damages in the case brought against them by three employees of the museum.

Sadly, though, the Ministers did not find it within themselves to apologise for the disgraceful treatment these individuals were forced to bare while in custody. In addition, the government has yet to make clear what action has been taken against the officers involved in this outrageous incident (see here), and we will be submitting parliamentary questions to ascertain whether any charges have been made.

The utter idiocy of the raid has at last been formally exposed in court, and once again the Department of Safety and Security, this time hand in hand with its Defence colleagues, will be paying out for the irreversible physical and psychological damage its members have done to unsuspecting, innocent members of our society.

The DA applauds the Judge's statement (see here) that the Ministers involved should have been in court to observe what their laxity had led to, and his references to the abuse of power on the part of especially the SAPS members should be carefully considered.

When 52 South Africans were being murdered each day, and countless hundreds brutally raped, it was inexplicable that members of the SAPS and Defence would waste even a minute plotting to raid a museum and arrest its highly respected curators.

These curators are to be compensated for this travesty, but will we once again witness the ANC 'collective' apology, while the individual perpetrators get off scot free? The DA will be submitting questions in Parliament to determine the career path of the individuals involved and what measures will be taken against them.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on safety and security, March 12 2009

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