The decision by the Johannesburg magistrate’s court to find former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini, who is also president of the ANC Women’s League, guilty of perjury is, in effect, a low blow for women.
Not so much because women will be negatively affected by her impending removal from the last of the leadership positions she holds, but because all the while they believed they were being led they were, in fact, on their own.
Magistrate Betty Khumalo found that Dlamini gave false evidence under oath at an inquiry instituted by the Constitutional Court in 2018, looking into possibly corrupt payments to Cash Paymaster Services, which was found by the courts to be illegal.
Instead of helping eliminate the illegality as social development minister, Dlamini set up work streams of people reporting to her, frustrating the process — and then lied to the inquiry when asked about it.
Were it not for the Constitutional Court Dlamini would still pass for a leader in our country
Were it not for the Constitutional Court that, in September 2018, castigated Dlamini as “reckless” and “grossly negligent” and ordered her to pay 20% of Black Sash and Freedom Under Law legal costs, she would still pass for a leader in our country.
The sooner others like her are put through the legal process, the better for all.
It was also telling that as the court pronounced her guilt, she was supported in court by suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, who is facing serious charges of fraud and corruption in the Mangaung magistrate’s court.
Poor leadership, it must be said, may not be the only reason our country is beset by so many challenges. But it’s certainly one of the main reasons.
We must hope that the ANC, which Dlamini still serves in senior capacities, will remove her and allow other more capable and well-meaning women to step up.
May the courts too continue to have the courage to punish those who use their higher positions for their own benefit.
Our democracy, and especially the weak in society, the very people Dlamini was called upon to help, will be better served without pretenders to the throne who are dishonest.
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