Your letter of appeal to the ANC comrades — dated 23 August 2020 — is nothing short of encouraging. It is indeed a momentous clarion call. Your Rubicon moment in both the fight against corruption and your political leadership of the country. Those who criticise or denounce the points you have succinctly made in your comradely appeal will expose an irrational agenda, for they have the most to lose.
I would urge those who have not done so to read your letter and “hear” the deep sincerity and morally courageous stance you have put to the leadership of the ANC. No doubt, the “push-back” and corrupt cabal therein will be a tad peeved. For it is they who sing from the ethically deprived hymn-sheet of delusional mindsets, that see nothing wrong with government officials and their family members doing business with the government.
Mr President, you have pulled no punches in your honest acknowledgment that the ANC is central to the depth and breadth of corruption in South Africa. Indeed, some have said that South Africa does not suffer from a corruption problem, but instead it suffers from an ANC problem. Your letter has made that point clear.
Everything you have stated in your letter is music to the ears of many civil society entities that remain steadfast in their calls for drastic action to tackle corruption. This has after all been the centre of South Africa’s crisis for decades, and made more horrific in recent months by the advent of the coronavirus crisis. You have drawn the “line in the sand” and called it for what it is. Your appeal has lifted the veil that masks the warts of ANC corruption and scabs of maladministration that have deeply infected our nation.
Having now eventually stepped out into the light when it comes to doing something meaningful in tackling corruption, please anticipate two dynamics that confront you:
- Civil society will hold you to account for these brave calls you have made, each and every one extremely necessary; and
- Resistance from many within the ANC whom you have no doubt angered. Prepare well to deal with them.
Civil society’s frustration is that it has taken you almost three years since taking up the ANC’s reins to stand up and lead the charge against corruption. But as the classic saying goes, “better late than never”. Yes, we recognise your good work done to address the capacity and leadership issues at SARS, NPA, Hawks, and the establishment of the Independent Directorate. Your observation is correct in that this alone is not enough to quell the continued and brazen conduct of maladministration and corruption by many in positions of authority within your party.
Please know Mr President, you will be saluted for this brave stance and we are sure you realise this is your last roll of the dice. You need to make it count and your tactical approach through this well-written letter is a great start. Not a moment too soon, as the patience of investors, citizens and many who have this country’s best interests at heart, has reached breaking point. The tax revolts unfolding in local and other areas of government are about to get worse if matters don’t drastically change.
But as you know, Mr President, it’s in the action where the proof of good talk lies. We want nothing more than to see what you have suggested unfold:
- “Every cadre accused of, or reported to be involved in, corrupt practices must account to the Integrity Commission immediately or face disciplinary processes”.
- “People who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures should be summarily suspended.”
- “The ANC should publicly disassociate itself from anyone, whether business donor, supporter or member, accused of corruption or reported to be involved in corruption”.
We will be overjoyed with lifestyle audits and declaration of financial interests by ANC cadres. We will also be ecstatic with meaningful actions that drive transparency and accountability in the procurement processes of the government. Civil society is waiting to assist you in developing these mechanisms to enable robust transparency in tendering and state procurement.
Mr President, while you have our support for everything you have written, please know that the trust deficit in government is at an all-time low. This means that many will not believe a word you have written. You need to demonstrate that you are serious.
The resistance from those who have everything to lose if these actions unfold will be substantive. But you already know this. Please remind them that the vast majority of society will be behind your calls. Remind them also that the ANC only achieved its slight majority in the 2019 elections because of your position within the ANC. Not because of Ace Magashule. Not because of David Mabuza or Jesse Duarte and others with cookie-pot pilfering fingers.
Society’s belief and trust in your ability will be extremely heightened if we witness in coming months, the following people stepping down and participating in Integrity Commission inquiries that must now get underway:
- Tina Joemat-Pettersson, currently the Chairperson of the Police Committee in the National Assembly.
- Bongani Bongo, currently the Chairperson of the Home Affairs Committee in the National Assembly.
- Faith Muthambi, now the Chairperson of the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Committee in the National Assembly.
- Mosebenzi Zwane, the current Chairperson of the Transport Committee in the National Assembly.
- Cedric Frolick, the Chair of Portfolio Committee Chairpersons.
- We shall watch with great interest how the ANC deals with the reinstatements of VBS leadership and KwaZulu-Natal’s Zandile Gumede, not to forget Malusi Gigaba, Des van Rooyen, Nomvula Mokonyane and others who fill senior leadership positions within the belly of the ANC at Luthuli House.
While scepticism remains high in your ability to pull this off, we believe you applied your mind to the journey that lies ahead of you, when writing this letter. What happens now and over the next few months will be telling. If you pull it off, you will win the next elections by a landslide majority and you will place this country on a positive trajectory of growth and heightened prosperity.
Please do not allow the naysayers to distract you. I have no doubt you have the committed support of the vast majority of civil society. Now, make it happen. DM
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