Zuma and Magashula – a tale of two questionable men
In resigning, Magashula did what many, including President Jacob Zuma, failed to do when faced with a similar situation.
There is no excuse for misconduct and corruption, and the stakes are higher when the accused is a high-ranking public official.
Therefore, hats off to former South African Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Oupa Magashula for resigning after an investigation into alleged misconduct.
His resignation followed a trail of events triggered after the City Press newspaper revealed the contents of a recorded phone call between Magashula and convicted drug dealer Panganathan Marimuthu.
The report found that Magashula placed the reputation and credibility of Sars at risk when he allegedly offered a 28-year-old Durban woman and friend of Marimuthu a job – and possibly a husband – at Sars.
While there is no evidence that Magashula committed a crime, the incident placed the credibility and reputation of Sars on the line.
In resigning, Magashula did what many, including President Jacob Zuma, failed to do when faced with a similar situation. This places him in good standing for future job prospects.
It is well documented that Zuma fought with everything he had in his march to the presidency, and is yet to be proven free of corruption as he heads into his second term in the highest office.
Instead of fighting, protesting and even lying his way to freedom, Magashula resigned.
However, very little has been said of the recording that marked his end. It appears the tax boss was set up, as no one would record a telephone conversation for the fun of it and make it available to newspapers.
Coincidentally, Zuma was acquitted on the basis of telephone recordings. In theory, telephone tapping needs authorisation by a court, and is normally only approved when evidence shows it is not possible to detect criminal or subversive activity in less intrusive ways. Often the law and regulations require that the crime investigated must be at least of a certain severity.
Magashula tarnished the image of Sars; much as he had a right to take a cue from Zuma and befriend whoever he wanted despite their reputation, offering people jobs and dealing with convicted criminals was despicable for a man in his position.
But who recorded him and for what purpose? Zuma walked free because recordings into his suspected corruption deals were obtained unlawfully. Magashula’s resignation followed a telephone recording. Aren’t all animals equal anymore?
