Hugh "Bob" Glenister, the enigmatic Johannesburg businessman who calls himself "a concerned citizen" and has applied for an interdict in the Pretoria High Court against the government's plan to disband the Scorpions, talks volubly.
His frequent, uproarious laughter suggests frivolity but he is a serious man seeking nothing less than "the truth" about the imminent disbanding of the elite crime-fighting unit and the vindication of his constitutional rights.
His formidable legal team is an elite fighting body in itself, comprising attorney Kevin Louis and advocates David Unterhalter and Alfred Cockrel. For legal fees and a publicity campaign, Glenister has been thus far set back R600 000.
Continues Below ↓
President Thabo Mbeki has decided not to oppose Glenister's application and said he will abide by the ruling of High Court Judge Willie van der Merwe. So it remains for justice minister Bridget Mabandla and safety and security minister Charles Nqakula to respond to his challenge.
Glenister says he has budgeted R1.5-million for this challenge but, if the courts don't find in his favour, he could be forking out a whole lot more. Even with the contribution of other people who don't want to see the Scorpions go this is a costly affair. But money seems not to be at issue here.
"South Africa has been good to me. It's pay-back time," he says. "Somebody has stolen the soul of the ANC and I hope that it's glorious heart will be restored."
How can he be sure of success when the case goes to court on May 20?
"I will know only in 10 years if what I have done has benefited the country. My decision [to go to court] was based on passion, not analysis."
His decision was "a crazy act which should not be required in a democracy".
So is he crazy? He ponders: "Sanity is a relative term.
Continues...
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
