Commissions for politicians, handcuffs for the rest of us

The Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Sisissi Tolashe is accused of having no matric.

If I recall correctly, there was a resolution or recommendation from former president Kgalema Motlanthe for a tertiary institution qualification for ministers and members of parliament.

We all know that ministers hide under the dubious term of serving at the pleasure of the president, which makes them more trusted and more like lieutenants instead of having the competency and skillset that can help South Africa in the many challenges that it faces.

But that is not where my issue is. I write out of concern that every time South Africa has a commission of inquiry, it is to shield a politician from facing jail time.

This started long ago with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where, after it completed its work, SAPS should have arrested many apartheid-era henchmen, collaborators and sellouts.

The same thing happened with the Arms Deal, Travelgate, the Marikana Massacre, and Life Esidimeni. There are many other examples that I have forgotten, which shows just how overwhelmed as a country we have been with so many commissions.

At the end of their term, these commissions don't even produce results where implicated individuals can be prosecuted and sent to jail. Last week your newspaper had the Political Killings Task Team dockets story on the front page.

It was an important story to tell because the Madlanga Commission that is supposed to investigate allegations by KZN Police Commissioner Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will, like other commissions, lead to no jail term for crooked politicians and corrupt policemen.

Politicians can't fool us. It is unfair that when they break the law, commissions of inquiry are established, but when ordinary citizens, like the rest of us, break the law, they get handcuffs. | Sazi Dlamini Durban