No-nonsense approach to corruption

Was Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu deliberately omitted from the official programme of Nelson Mandela’s memorial and funeral?
Tutu has a no-nonsense approach to corruption and is an outspoken critic of the government. When public representatives are behaving contrary to the mandate of the citizens who elected them into office they have to be exposed. The duty of the electorate is to hold the elected accountable. This keeps democracy alive and ministers are kept in check so that any deviation from policy or maladministration is easily highlighted.
The Boo brigade at the memorial service at FNB Stadium made their feelings apparent when leaders from across the globe came to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela. This booing incident has embarrassed the president and the country and definitely shows a growing disillusionment with Zuma.
The Nkandla controversy is crucial in this context and maybe the survival of Zuma hinges on the findings of the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela’s soon to be released, report. The hallmark of a vibrant democracy is to keep its leaders on their toes.
Leaders must not be allowed to praise Madiba for removing Apartheid laws from the statute books while at the same time endorsing one of apartheid’s most repugnant bills, and called the Protection of State Information Bill also known as the Secrecy Bill. What is the reason for such a bill? Is there so much of secrets that has to be kept away from the tax-paying citizens who have a right to know that draconian laws have to be legislated to keep them in the dark.
Tutu has been a close friend of Madiba. After Madiba was released from Victor Verster prison in 1990, he stayed with Tutu. Tutu presided over funerals of struggle figures such as Steve Biko, Robert Sobukwe, ANC leader Walter Sisulu and anti-apartheid cleric Beyers Naude. Why was he sidelined and snubbed by not being included genuinely in the proceedings?  If one of the reasons is that Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a constructive critic of the ruling party and is fearless in highlighting their deficiencies and shortcomings then as a country we are not living up to the ideals embodied in Tata Madiba.
VIJAY SURUJPAL
Phoenix