MENZI SIMELANE, who has been named National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) by President Jacob Zuma, is a really nice guy, friendly and quick to laugh. But that doesn’t cut it in this job, unfortunately. All prosecutions in the country are run through the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which the NDPP heads.

Sadly for Simelane, he was forced to give evidence in chief for the Government at the so-called (Frene) Ginwala Inquiry into whether or not the previous NDPP, Vusi Pikoli, was fit for office. Former president Thabo Mbeki, who suspended Pikoli, didn’t think so and wanted Pikoli to desist from arresting the former National Commissioner of Police, Jackie Selebi (if you’re new in SA, read this slowly) back in 2007 before the ANC congress where Zuma ousted Mbeki as party leader. Mbeki didn’t want Selebi in Zuma’s camp.

Anyway, neither Mbkei nor his Justice Minister, Brigitte Mabandla, cared to appear before Ginwala so Simelane, as director general at the Department of Justice, was forced to. There he proceeded to trash his reputation and his integrity by, effectively, lying for his political masters. Ginwala was later to record that his evidence “left much to be desired”.

That would not move the president nor his party. Vusi Mona, one of the presidential spokespeople, is quoted as saying that “there is no basis (not to appoint) Simelane; he is not facing any charges”. That’s because the new Justice Minister, Jeff Radebe, has declined to continue an investigation in Simelane sparked by his evidence to Ginwala. It’s remarkably similar to Zuma’s own story – he can be elected because there are no charges against him and there are no charges against him because… well, we all know the story.

Except for poor old Jackie Selebi. With Mbeki to stand in front of him telling critics to “bring me the evidence against Jackie” he was safe, because whatever evidence you brought would be ignored. But then Mbeki was removed. Now he’s on trial, we know what disgrace he brought to his office and the police service.

Simelane’s been appointed to this job because the message in lying for your political masters is very positive. If you’ve done it once you can probably be relied upon to do it again. Zuma will take his chances with the poor ‘delivery’, expensive car scandals and the like. But nothing judicial, nothing, is going to get near him again. So while he might look for some degree of expertise in ministers running the economy, the hospitals and the schools, the people running intelligence, the cops and justice — your Jeffs, Nathis, Moes and Menzis — have to be merely politically reliable. It is why he will, ultimately, fail in the effort he is making to curb corruption. You just can’t do it if you don’t set the right example yourself.

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FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan has set loose a thousand tongues by suggesting that inflation targetting isn’t the only way to attack inflation. He may be right and I’m sure he knows exactly what real inflation can do to an economy and its citizens. But what, minister, are all the other ways to keep a lid on the beast and where have they been successful and how would they work here? Do tell.

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AS IT was my birthday yesterday this column had to be written before a ball had been bowled in PE. Suffice to say the Proteas showed the character we have a right to expect of them on Friday at Newlands. It can’t be hard. Everyone needs to play with the determination of Graeme Smith or Paul Collingwood. You won’t always win but you’ll seldom look pathetic. As for the rugby, what do you say? “The boys are tired”, I am sick of hearing and it isn’t true. Some of these exhausted players are staying in the UK to play for the Barbarians next Saturday! Responsibility lies with the coach. He picks the team and makes the substitutions, some of which, on Saturday against Ireland, made no sense at all and certainly didn’t work.

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