Johannesburg - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Thursday
said Nedbank Group [JSE:NED] CEO Reuel Khoza's comments about the lack of
leadership in South African was "twisted logic".
"Dr Reuel Khoza makes several assertions about the ANC
government, some of which cannot go unchallenged," Mthethwa said in an
opinion piece issued by the ANC.
"Dr Khoza holds in contempt the democratic and open
society in which government is based on the will of the people, and casts the
millions that voted this government into power as stupid."
Khoza, writing in Nedbank's latest annual report released on
Friday, said South Africa's "strange breed" of leadership needed to
adhere to the institutions that underpinned democracy.
The political climate was not a picture of an accountable
democracy, he said.
Moral quotient degenerating
"Our political leadership's moral quotient is
degenerating and we are fast losing the checks and balances that are necessary
to prevent a recurrence of the past."
Khoza said South Africans had a duty to build and develop
the nation, but also to hold their leaders accountable.
"We have a duty to build and develop this nation and to
call to book the putative leaders who, due to sheer incapacity, cannot deal
with the complexity of 21st century governance and leadership, cannot
lead," said Khoza.
Mthethwa said Khoza's comments were thoughtless and devoid
of substance and undermined the values, prescribes and intentions of the
country's constitution.
"Our constitution is not a product of a Mount Sinai
revelation that is cast in stone. It came as a result of selfless struggle and
sacrifices of many South Africans and the members of international progressive
humanity," he said.
The ANC government was doing its part in addressing the
challenges of economic growth, job creation and development.
"Prominent by their omission in Dr Khoza's assessment
of challenges are the issues... and what Nedbank, among others, is doing to
address these for a better life for all," said Mthethwa.
"Understandably, the good doctor would not want to
touch on these issues, lest he offends his paymasters, whom I should assume,
are predominantly the beneficiaries of centuries of racist economic and
political dispensations," he said.
Khoza should use his standing in society to respond to
issues facing society in totality and not be tempted to blame others.
"We do not have to remind Dr Khoza that in less than 20 (years) ago, he would not have dreamt of being a chairman of Nedbank, if it was
not (for) the relentless and selfless struggle of our people, led and guided by
the African National Congress and its leadership that he despises so much
today," said Mthethwa.
Khoza could not be immediately reached on Thursday.