One of this lowly newspaperman’s favourite South African political quotes comes from former president Kgalema Motlanthe.
In a newspaper interview shortly after ANC national executive committee (NEC) member Tony Yengeni had been convicted of fraud, Motlanthe was asked whether the party would kick him out of the positions he held in the party. The answer was typical of the scholarly Motlanthe, placing – as he did – the responsibility back in the hands of the offender.
“The ANC only intervenes when your own conscience fails to guide you,” he said.