— 02/13/2008
DON'T TRUST MBEKI, BLATTER

If Fifa chief Sepp Blatter believes President Thabo Mbeli's assurances that South Africa will create 'the best ever' FIFA Football World Cup tournament in 2010, he is being taken for a ride. Tourism authorities fear the energy crunch, which halted key gold and platinum mines last month, will make South Africa an unsuitable host for the event, but Mbeki says 'I have absolutely no doubt that we will honour our undertaking to FIFA and the world community of soccer players and lovers to create all the necessary conditions for the holding of the best ever FIFA Football World Cup tournament.' Informed observers think the assurances to Blatter are wholly irresponsible.

One analyst told ever-fasternews: 'He (Mbeki) is simply a dreadful yarn-spinner. It is quite impossible for the electricity problems to be solved in a short time. His promise that power priority will be given to the hosting cities may not be feasible. Mbeki told Bush that he would quite certainly get rid of Mugabe within a year, which was why Bush called him his point-man. It was just not true. And now acting National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Mokotedi Mpshe reveals he's been spinning yarns, too, about suspended police commissioner Jackie Selebi. Blatter is very, very foolish if he trusts Mbeki'.

Meetings with prosecutor
Ten meetings with former prosecuting boss Vusi Pikoli, as well as a 'top secret' letter, did nothing to convince Mbeki that there was a corruption case against Selebi. An affidavit filed on Monday reveals that Pikoli informed six top government officials, including Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula and Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, of the 'serious' graft claims against Selebi. Mpshe's statements that there was 'constant communication' between Pikoli, Mbeki and Mabandla about the Selebi investigation contradict Mbeki's claims that he was ignorant of any alleged wrongdoing by Selebi.
     
Selebi faces two charges of corruption and one of obstructing the ends of justice. Mpshe says Mbeki and various ministers have been fully informed of investigations and the nature of allegations against Selebi.
Mpshe was answering to court papers earlier filed by Selebi. Mpshe says Selebi's allegations that Mbeki and the Cabinet have been kept in the dark about the investigation and decision to prosecute him are 'simply incorrect'. Mpshe says he is aware that there was constant communication between former Director of Public Prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli, Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla, and Mbeki.

Mbeki acknowledged on Sunday in an interview with the SABC that he had been made aware of the investigation against Selebi.
'What I had said in the past was that if anybody brought me evidence to show that the National Commissioner of Police had engaged in criminal wrongdoing, of course we would 
act. The NPA came to me to say that they had received allegations about criminal conduct on the part of the National Commissioner and I said fine. Mpshe has reiterated that the decision to prosecute was based on evidence believed to be credible.
Selebi was formally indicted on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice at the beginning of the month. The application, in which he will try to stop his prosecution, will be heard on April 10 before a full bench of judges.