Niehaus blames prison and apartheid

[blunomore]

Johannesburg - Former ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus's current "personal situation" was the effects of his "time spent in prison for his principled opposition to apartheid", his lawyer said on Wednesday.

Niehaus was seeking professional help, his attorney, Ian Small Smith, said in a statement.

"Carl Niehaus has today [Wednesday] sought professional assistance in the two areas vital to dealing conclusively with his personal situation and reconstructing his life.

"He is seeking psychological counselling to assist him in dealing with the long-term and deeply negative affects of his time spent in prison for his principled opposition to apartheid," read the statement.

Niehaus served seven-and-a-half years of a 15-year jail term in the 1980s for high treason.

This is according to the A-Z of South African Politics published in 1994, which also states that "Niehaus is known for his uncompromising views, but is also respected for his honesty".

Resigned from ANC

The statement by his lawyer confirmed his resignation from "his position with the African National Congress" but added that he remained a loyal member of the party.

It added that he was "obtaining assistance in settling his debts".

"The media is asked to respect the privacy of Carl Niehaus and his family in the coming period. He is no longer available for interviews or to take calls from the media," said Smith.

Claims against Niehaus have been rolling in since a Mail & Guardian report on Friday on his alleged fraud and lies to maintain an expensive lifestyle that has dumped him in debt.

These include lies about him obtaining a doctorate, a fraudulent letter to obtain a loan and reports of millions of rands of debt, default payments and judgments against his name.

The ANC initially said he would be redeployed within the party but it said on Tuesday that Niehaus had withheld information from it.

Niehaus announced his resignation Tuesday night, which the ANC accepted, unlike last week, when it did not want to accept his offer to resign.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_2471756,00.html

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Conflicting, confusing, chaos.

 

[LCBXX]

How convenient. Perhaps I should blame apartheid every time I get a fine or parking ticket.

 

[Alan]

How convenient. Perhaps I should blame apartheid every time I get a fine or parking ticket.

+1

Amazing how this POS had a "principled opposition to apartheid". Seems to me he has no principles in the first place

 

[Vrotappel]

Wow, did not see that one coming ...

 

[zeb]

Wow, did not see that one coming ...

How could you. I bet from now on more people will use this excuse

 

[Sly21C]

Niehaus was put in the ANC by the third force to futher embarrass and devide the ANC so that the ANC will lose votes and bring back apartheid.........

 

[Alan]

Wow, did not see that one coming ...

Actually it's quite ingenious......

 

[stoke]

I'm beginning to wonder what on earth is up with this.
Usually it's:
- You are corrupt.
- We have filed criminal charges.
- You are fired and here's your docket number.

But, with this person it's a long standing feet dragging media froth of regurgitated rubbish.
Are they trying to create another Hansie?

 

[Geriatrix]

Well I've got a suggestion for the sake of government efficiency then.
All these politicians seem to blame apartheid or some other trauma for their personal bad choices and shortcomings and all their friends seem to agree that its a valid excuse.

So for the purpose of efficiency and to insure the best possible service to the people government says it wants to serve I propose that any and all people who served in prison during the apartheid years or suffered some other mental trauma who may have had their ability to make ethical, moral and generally good decisions compromised not be allow to act as public officials or to serve the government in any capacity.
If such an individual wants to serve in office or in a general capacity towards government they and a psychoanalyst have to sign a document confirming that they are in no way psychologically damaged by apartheid or any other trauma that may impair their judgment.

Do you think government would go for such a suggestion?

 

[marine1]

Well now i say he is an official bloody idiot. I actually felt sorry for him but now he can kiss my white a$$

 

[Albereth]

Heck - Zuma was going to use that excuse

 

[lsuacner]

haha.

 

[daveza]

A caller to Cape Talk spent 5 years in the next cell to Niehaus and rubbished the claims that they were mistreated. Apparently white political prisoners were kept seperately, each to their own cell with own ablutions and had regular visits by the Red Cross.

It's hard to believe anything Niehaus says anymore.

 

[OhGats]

Aaah.. I wondered when he was going to use that excuse.

 

[adrianx]

Most con-artists that I have come across are either very offended by strong language, very religious, very "honest".... at least, that is what they want other people to think. A misplaced sense of morals. So, I'm not surprised by Niehaus' reaction or his so-called character.

 

[Zenbaas]

He seems to be a complete joke of a man.

 

[antowan]

They guy is a trickster and a fraud. He always was and always will be. He is a compulsive liar and a drama queen. He should be kept so far away from public office in South Africa the arctic chill should freeze his ass!

 

[Lord Anubis]

Ghei?

 

[Sneeky]

beautiful