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Jackie Selebi has passed. In disgrace and in debt to the South African people by around R15 million squandered on his "defence" to try and squeeze out of jail - which ultimately he did anyway.
So what credit is due to him? Do we look past his misdeeds and consider his life and accomplishments as a whole or just the last tragic chapter?
For me, the last chapter unfortunately defines the man. His actions not only embarrassed the country, they manipulated, embarrassed and deceived over 100 000 active and honest policemen and brought shame upon them all and their profession.
Even when faced with the blatant evidence of his corruption, the man did not have the strength of character to confess to his actions and show some form of remorse. Instead, he continued to lie to the public and those serving in SAPS in a last ditch attempt to save his career.
A tragic account by any means - what makes it worse, is that the damage this man did to the image of the SAPS locally and abroad is irreparable. Yes, replacing him with Cele wasn't much of a bright idea either, it just perpetuated the overall impression of a deeply corrupt system.
How sad is it that one man can wreak so much havoc on an entire institution. What makes it sadder is that in all probability he will be lauded as a hero of the people who made a "silly little mistake" and should receive a full state funeral with honors .
What honors I ask? What honor did this man show by not even serving time in jail as the court mandated? By wriggling out of jail time on the flimsiest of "medical reasons" and using political favors to further entrench the picture of a corrupt system gone mad.
Make no mistake, the passing of any human being is lamentable, more so when the impression they have left the world with is a negative one. I do empathise with his family and friends (the conman Agliotti included of course)
This man deserves no state recognition whatsoever except to be recognised for the criminal that he was and the man who destroyed the reputation of the SAPS.
I hear the commentators already saying that SAPS had a bad reputation before he stepped in, but did it? SAPS was investing heavily in skills training that was miles ahead of previous years, it was growing in quality but not quantity. Sound management was in place.
Selebi was the first to replace core positions with those that were supportive of him, to engage on mass recruitment of officers of a lower caliber, to ignore seasoned policemens advice in senior quarters and just barrage along.
No. I shall not mourn this mans passing. I shall mourn the passing of an institution that once served with pride and dignity - and Jackie Selebi was the man who cemented it's downfall.
So what credit is due to him? Do we look past his misdeeds and consider his life and accomplishments as a whole or just the last tragic chapter?
For me, the last chapter unfortunately defines the man. His actions not only embarrassed the country, they manipulated, embarrassed and deceived over 100 000 active and honest policemen and brought shame upon them all and their profession.
Even when faced with the blatant evidence of his corruption, the man did not have the strength of character to confess to his actions and show some form of remorse. Instead, he continued to lie to the public and those serving in SAPS in a last ditch attempt to save his career.
A tragic account by any means - what makes it worse, is that the damage this man did to the image of the SAPS locally and abroad is irreparable. Yes, replacing him with Cele wasn't much of a bright idea either, it just perpetuated the overall impression of a deeply corrupt system.
How sad is it that one man can wreak so much havoc on an entire institution. What makes it sadder is that in all probability he will be lauded as a hero of the people who made a "silly little mistake" and should receive a full state funeral with honors .
What honors I ask? What honor did this man show by not even serving time in jail as the court mandated? By wriggling out of jail time on the flimsiest of "medical reasons" and using political favors to further entrench the picture of a corrupt system gone mad.
Make no mistake, the passing of any human being is lamentable, more so when the impression they have left the world with is a negative one. I do empathise with his family and friends (the conman Agliotti included of course)
This man deserves no state recognition whatsoever except to be recognised for the criminal that he was and the man who destroyed the reputation of the SAPS.
I hear the commentators already saying that SAPS had a bad reputation before he stepped in, but did it? SAPS was investing heavily in skills training that was miles ahead of previous years, it was growing in quality but not quantity. Sound management was in place.
Selebi was the first to replace core positions with those that were supportive of him, to engage on mass recruitment of officers of a lower caliber, to ignore seasoned policemens advice in senior quarters and just barrage along.
No. I shall not mourn this mans passing. I shall mourn the passing of an institution that once served with pride and dignity - and Jackie Selebi was the man who cemented it's downfall.
