African Christian Democratic Party
Statement by Rev Kenneth Meshoe, MP, and ACDP President:

ACDP welcomes 15 years' imprisonment for Selebi

"The ACDP welcomes the sentence of 15 years for corruption imposed by Judge Meyer Joffe today on former Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi. We believe this minimum sentence will send a strong message to other policemen that corruption amongst law enforcement officers is totally unacceptable.

We agree with Judge Meyer Joffe who said in his judgment that what the former National Police Commissioner did is "an embarrassment not only to the SAPS, government and all law abiding South Africans, but also to Interpol which he was the head".

The ACDP believes the reputation of the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Interpol suffered as a result of the crime and conviction of Selebi. This sentence is thus justified even though he is in his sixties.

Lastly, this conviction and sentencing illustrates that no one, including high ranking officials with political connections is above the law. The question arises whether this case, which was pursued with vigour by the former Scorpions, would ever have been successfully concluded had it been investigated by the SAPS. In light of attempts by the SAPS to intimidate the prosecutor, Adv. Gerrie Nel, it is unlikely that this case would have been successfully investigated had it been left to the SAPS."

***

African National Congress
Statement by Jackson Mthembu, ANC National Spokesperson:

ANC STATEMENT ON THE SENTENCE AGAINST CDE JACKIE SELEBI

The handing down of sentence today, the 03 August 2010, by Judge Meyer Joffe, against the former Chief of Police, Cde Jackie Selebi clearly indicates that South Africa as a country is governed by laws that are applied without any fear or favour to anyone, regardless of their standing in society.

The ANC is of the view that the law has taken its course and again as part of the South African community, we reiterate our confidence in our judicial system.

Like any other citizen of our country, permitted by law, Cde Jackie has the right to appeal the judgement against him in court.

***

Afriforum
Statement by Nantes Kelder, Head: Community safety, AfriForum:

Selebi sentence: Congratulations, but are similar cases likely to follow?

AfriForum congratulated members of the now disbanded Scorpions unit on the role they played in ensuring the conviction and sentencing of the former Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi. Selebi was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment today.

However, AfriForum also warned that it could be more difficult to prosecute senior police officers on corruption charges in future owing to the replacement of the Scorpions, which functioned independently from the South African Police Service (SAPS), with the newly founded Hawks unit, which falls under the direct command and control of the SAPS.

AfriForum's head of community safety, Nantes Kelder, said Selebi would probably not have been prosecuted if the investigation had been left to a unit that fell directly under Selebi's command. "The Hawks have done excellent work so far, but there is a need for an investigating unit that is not controlled directly by the SAPS," Kelder added.

***

Congress of the People
Statement by Phillip Dexter, COPE's Head of Communications:

Jackie Selebi's conviction and sentence of 15 years in prison must be a wake up call to government, and to the police services. Cope is of  the opinion that it is a mark of shame and a sad day when South Africa's former top cop, who headed up Interpol, is sentenced to 15 years in prison.

We have to think twice about transparency and accountability in the police services, all the while balancing these needs with the security of the state and individuals. Attempts to protect high ranking officials are doomed to failure in a modern democracy.

The current administration are under a cloud of allegations of corruption and tender rigging. The South African public deserves more than this. The level of service achieved by the police during the World Cup means that with the right energy and focus, this administration can deliver quality services.

The sad spectacle of Selebi's conviction, as with Schabir Shaik and as with the corrupted prosecution process of President Zuma, all point to a collapse of leadership and accountability at the centre of the state.

***

Congress of South African Trade Unions
Statement by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson

Selebi's 15-year sentence

It is absolutely outrageous, embarrassing and shameful that somebody appointed to enforce the law and protect South Africa citizens from crime, should accept bribes from disreputable criminals, says the Congress of South African Trade Unions. 

The fifteen year prison sentence on former Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi, is the minimum that could have been imposed for such a serious offence.

Given Selebi's position as an enforcer of the law, the Judge had no alternative but to impose a long custodial sentence, so as to send out a powerful warning - that no-one is above the law, whatever their past record in the liberation struggle, or however high their position in the state.

The case underlines the necessity of re-establishing the core values of our movement - integrity, honesty and selflessness - and ridding society of the view that it is acceptable to use public office to line your own pockets, especially from the very criminals you are supposed to be putting behind bars.

We must never forget Jackie Selebi's struggle credentials, and his contribution to our liberation, in his years in exile, as envoy to the UN in Geneva and as Director General in the then Department of Foreign Affairs. But he has now been found wanting and must pay the price.

COSATU will be campaigning more strongly than ever for tough action against all those involved in corruption, especially those in institutions like the SAPS which are there to protect us. We must appoint people with the necessary character and integrity to investigate, prosecute and punish those who abuse public positions to enrich themselves, no matter how senior.

Criminals be warned - there is no place for you in a democratic South Africa.

***

Democratic Alliance
Statement by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Police:

Selebi's Sentencing: Rare instance of justice for corrupt cadres

The sentencing today of the former National Police Commissioner and former President of Interpol, Jackie Selebi, to 15 years imprisonment,  marks the end of one of the most controversial trials in South African history. Controversial because of the numerous obstacles placed in the way of due process and the law in trying to bring this criminal to book and controversial because we as a country are almost completely unfamiliar with the idea of a corrupt official, connected to the ANC, actually going to prison.  As Mr. Selebi comes to grips with the idea of prison, so too should the government think about the integrity of a police structure that was for years led by an individual who today joins the ranks of the very criminals from which the police are supposed to protect our society. The reason was cadre deployment and cadre deployment alone, and that ANC-driven policy needs to be scrapped.

***

Freedom Front Plus
Statement by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus Spokesperson: Police:

SELEBI SENTENCING A WARNING

"The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the sentencing to 15 years imprisonment of Jackie Selebi. The judgment sends out a strong message and serves as a warning to officials, even in the highest echelons, that corruption will be punished. The guilty verdict and sentencing of Selebi however remains an embarrassment and damages the image of South Africa . It is also an embarrassment to Interpol, as Selebi was president of Interpol at the time of his committing corruption. This damage could have been curtailed if the previous president of SA, Thabo Mbeki, had conceded to the request of the Freedom Front Plus in 2006 to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry following allegations against Selebi," Mr. Pieter Groenewald, chief spokesperson for the Freedom Front Plus on Police says.

"In a reply to a request of the FF Plus at the time, Mbeki said that "I have the greatest confidence in Commissioner Selebi." (Letter attached) This verdict proves Mbeki to have been wrong and creates the impression that Mbeki was at the time protecting Selebi. The prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, and the National Prosecuting Authority, are congratulated with their perseverance to see to justice being done. Despite personal intimidation and the humiliation of a bogus arrest by members of the Police, Nel and his team continued with their investigation and today they can be satisfied with their hard work," Groenewald said.

***

Independent Democrats
Statement by ID president Patricia de Lille:

ID'S PATRICIA DE LILLE WELCOMES SELEBI SENTENCE

ID President Patricia de Lille has welcomed the 15-year prison sentence handed down to former Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi for corruption.

The sentence was handed down minutes ago by Judge Meyer Joffe in the Johannesburg High Court.

‘I agree with Judge Joffe that Selebi is an embarrassment to the court, South Africa, the South African Police Service and the Government that appointed him,' Ms De Lille says.

‘When the Police Commissioner is, in the words of the Judge, "a stranger to truth", then you have a problem. Fortunately South Africa can now breathe a collective sigh of relief because there will be one less criminal on the streets.

‘However, it is problematic for the ID that while Selebi has been punished for his crimes, there remain many ANC leaders that have escaped theirs simply because they are in the right faction of the ruling party,' says De Lille.

‘By the same token, this judgement sends out a very strong message that where corruption cases make it into our courts, our courts will not hesitate to deliver justice.

‘Of course a fair trial includes the right to appeal if Selebi so wishes,' De Lille says.

***

Inkatha Freedom Party
Velaphi Ndlovu, IFP spokesperson on police:

IFP: SELEBI SENTENCE TOO LENIENT

The IFP has welcomed the South Gauteng High Court's decision today to sentence the former South African police chief and Interpol head, Jackie Selebi, to a 15-year jail term for corruption.

"While the IFP welcomes today's sentencing, we believe that Mr Selebi's sentence is too lenient and he deserved a lengthier jail term. He was not only an embarrassment to the SAPS but to the country's image abroad because of his involvement with Interpol," said Velaphi Ndlovu, the IFP's spokesperson on Police today.

Ndlovu said that Selebi's actions had tarnished the police force's image and diminished the public's respect and confidence in the SAPS.

"The IFP is pleased that today's sentencing will repair some of the damage inflicted on the SAPS's public image by its former police chief. Moreover, we hope that the sentence will send out a clear message to all police officers and corrupt officials that corruption will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law, not even those with powerful political connections," added Ndlovu. 

In conclusion Ndlovu said: "The IFP sincerely hopes that Mr Selebi will serve his time in a prison cell and not in a private hospital room."

***

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa
Statement by NUMSA spokesperson, Castro Ngobese:

NUMSA STATEMENT ON JACKIE SELEBI

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) notes the 15 year imprisonment meted by the Gauteng High Court against former National Police Commissioner Cde Jackie Selebi.

The judgment affirms the independence of our judiciary system as a cornerstone of our nascent democratic dispensation and that no one should be above the law irrespective of one's social standing or contribution to the struggle for liberation and freedom.

This judgment sends a stern warning to private and public representatives who abuse their positions for corrupt financial interests and greed that their days are also coming. There is no better time than now for the President of the Republic Cde Jacob Zuma to declare corruption and irregular tendering as public enemy number one to the point of setting up Special Courts at municipal, provincial and national level to speedily deal with all acts or suspicion of corruption. It is our conviction that a cleaner and corrupt free society generates a better life for all.

As Numsa, we urge the people's government as led by the African National Congress (ANC) and our criminal justice system to intensify its fight against corruption in all facets of society. Our fight against corruption should not be delinked from the broader struggle of smashing or crushing the capitalist system which is inherently a corrupt system that breeds immorality, greed and corruption.

***

United Democratic Movement
Statement by Bantu Holomisa, MP, UDM president:

SELEBI CORRUPTION CONVICTION

The UDM welcomes the conviction of Jackie Selebi on charges of corruption. He abused his position and the trust that was placed in him.

We hope this sends a message that will echo in the halls of power - that the culture of impunity that pervades Government will not be tolerated.

***

Young Communist League
Statement by Gugu Ndima, YCLSA national spokesperson

YCLSA ON THE SENTENCING OF JACKIE SELEBI

The Young Communist League of South Africa (uFasimba) welcomes the sentencing of Jackie Selebi to 15 years on his corruption court case which was concluded today in the Johannesburg High Court. We are aware that Cde. Selebi still has recourse within the law and in higher courts, and that this sentence or sanction may be reversed.

We however want to reiterate the lessons learned from this trial and sanction. The trial signals that no one is above the law, and that irrespective of your struggle credentials or positions you may occupy in government or party politics, there will be consequences for corruption. The trial should also serve as a lesson to serving public office bearers and senior bureaucrats that they have a responsibility to serve as examples in the quest to restore clean governance.  

We call on government, prosecution and investigating agencies and the courts to deal with corruption in the same way as this case was dealt with, and that this should be celebrated as commitment by these institutions to ensure that we fight corruption wherever it rears its ugly head.

We know as a matter of fact that Selebi has played a significant role in shaping the history of our country, as a member of the ANC and as President of the ANC Youth League in exile. We however see this role crumbling in the feet of greed and manipulation and have succumbed to his arrogance and lack of remorse. Selebi owes an apology to our people and our youth who may have fallen victim to his blind policing in exchange of bribes, and also to the ANC and South Africans who have put so much trust in him.

As the YCLSA, we are concerned however, that Glen Agliotti may not serve time in prison as the other end of this bilateral corrupt relationship due to plea bargain. Although his testimony has led to the successful prosecution of Selebi, we firmly believe that he should also have had his day in jail.

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