Madam Deputy Speaker, according to news reports, Glen Agliotti has just been identified as the man arrested today in connection with the murder of Brett Kebble. Mr Agliotti is a close friend of Police Commissioner Selebi, and as such the commissioner must now either step down or be suspended pending an investigation into the links he has with the man. Glen Agliotti was arrested by the Scorpions and will appear in court this afternoon.
Commissioner Selebi has admitted that Agliotti is a friend of his and there have been claims that Agliotti telephoned Selebi immediately after the murder. The cloud hanging over the commissioner is now so big that there is no option but to remove him should he not step down voluntarily, and to begin a full investigation into the nature of their relationship.
The commissioner, despite earlier attempts by the President to clear his name on this front, is closely connected with someone who has been arrested in connection with a felony. Surely, the man tasked with leading the fight against crime should be above reproach when it comes to the people he associates with.
The question has to be asked whether an objective investigation can be undertaken, if the SAPS is run by Selebi in the driving seat. My answer to that is: No! Immediate action must be taken to investigate the nature of Commissioner Selebi's relationship with Glen... [Interjections.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, I do not wish to interrupt the hon member, but I would like you to rule, not necessarily now, but to impute particular criminality to a senior officer is to interfere with a prosecution before the courts. [Interjections.] No, no, don't bray like donkeys, it is a serious matter. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] I would like you to rule, please, as to whether or not the hone member's statement is an interference with justice and contempt of court in a case which is sub judice. I would like you to rule in future, not necessarily today.
Would you please complete your statement, hon member?
Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order, may I address you? You just referred a little earlier to the fact that we should try to maintain the decorum in the House and the hon Kader Asmal refers to persons who are heckling as donkeys. A little earlier other members were shouting at us to shut up. May I ask that you rule on that and it is unparliamentary?
No, you are actually right. Hon Asmal, please withdraw the last part of your statement.
I withdraw any asinine allusions to members of this House. [Laughter.]
Hon member, I did not understand that. What did you say?
I withdraw any imputations about asinine behaviour by members of this House.
No, hon member, I would like you to withdraw the words referring to hon members as donkeys. Full stop!
I withdraw the word "asinine", which is related to donkeys.
No, no!
I withdraw the word "donkeys".
Thank you.
Madam Deputy Speaker, may we know what the word "asinine" means?
No, because the hon member decided not to use that word after all because I also did not understand it. So, for the benefit of the House, I made sure that he doesn't use it, and he didn't. Are you now satisfied? I shouldn't have praised you so much because I am going to get trouble from you. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, my final sentence, if I may complete it, is that immediate action must be taken to investigate the nature of commissioner Selebi's relationship with Glen Agliotti. May I suggest that the members read the newspapers and listen to the radio. [Applause.] [Interjections.]