MBEKI DENIES "BULLYING" BAK OVER CAMPAIGN

Well in view of the fact that the President doesn't think that there is any crime in South Africa, why would he not "bully" the bank into withdrawing the anti-crime campaign! Why would we need an anti crime campaign if there is no crime?

Mbeki denies 'bullying' bank over campaign
February 04 2007 at 11:44PM

The presidency has denied forcing First National Bank (FNB) to withdraw its R20-million anti-crime campaign, SABC news reported on Sunday. The bank cancelled the campaign on Friday, apparently after talks with the government's security cluster and business leaders.

Presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga has denied any intervention from Thabo Mbeki's side. Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has also denied that the government put pressure on FNB to can the initiative."I am not aware that the presidency requested FNB to withdraw the campaign. FNB has got a right to embargo whatever campaign they see fit."Our view though is that we don't think the campaign would have assisted anybody in the fight against crime."

Ratshitanga's statement follows outrage from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the trade union Solidarity. The DA has accused the government of bullying FNB into withdrawing the advertisement. Party spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard said the ANC's denial of the extent of crime was damaging democracy and undermining public confidence.

Reacting to the withdrawal, Solidarity announced that it intended sending out thousands of letters from the public to Mbeki asking him to make crime prevention his first priority. - Sapa