ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte has apologised to the chair of the state capture commission, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo, for utterances she expressed in an opinion piece published in the online Daily Maverick this week, which she said may have been perceived as "disrespectful".
"On 10 February an article was published in my name. Upon reflection, I believe I owe you an apology," Duarte said in a statement released last night. She was referring to the opinion piece, dated February 9, headlined: "Testimony at Zondo commission is an onslaught against the people."
Duarte wrote: "More worrying is that democratic centralism is now the subject of a commission led by a judge who, with respect, practises his craft based on the narrow parameters of existing laws.
"One can only hope the Zondo commission is not going to turn our democracy into more of a neo-liberal concoction than it already is; where we all sound the same and do nothing real to transform our society. I shall await my turn to speak without fear, without favour, but I know my words and the words of some in our society will not be received without prejudice. The testimonies provided at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry display a serious lack of appreciation therefore of the role party caucuses play within a democracy such as ours."
She went on to say: "In the face of this onslaught, which is ultimately an onslaught against the people themselves, there is only one thing one can do and encourage others to do, and that is to have the courage and determination of someone like Mama Albertina Sisulu."
In her statement last night, Duarte said the article appeared to speak to Zondo directly and for that she "humbly apologises".
"It was not my intention to show any disrespect towards you personally. The article which was published in the Daily Maverick was a reflection of several witnesses who appeared not to know that the current system of our National Assembly is premised on a proportional representation system, largely in line with the Westminster model which provides for a whippery system.
"I wish to assure the Honourable Deputy Chief Justice of my deep respect for you and the work you are doing to bring to the fore the depth of malfeasance in the state and in the private sector," Duarte said.
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