OPINION | ANC must rid itself of its corruption demons

The revelations being aired at the Zondo commission about bribery and corruption at Bosasa continue to cast doubts over every aspect of government business in South Africa. If the Watsons and the Guptas had such a hold on the ANC, its leaders and government business, how far does this go? Which other business families and companies are involved?
Whilst Agrizzi’s testimony in the Zondo commission is yet to be tested in the courts of law, even if half of what he revealed is true, it would still be devastating.
We now have some insight into the goings-on at the NPA. We are aware that cases have been deliberately squashed.
We are then left with questions of whether or not the NPA is trustworthy. This doubt is a terribly destructive thing to have, especially for an emerging country like ours.
It is a doubt we cannot afford. If the NPA is untrustworthy, does this mean South Africans are on their own, and that we will have to find justice elsewhere? And where might I ask, in the streets? And if this is this case, where is the rule of law? And without the rule of law, who might we become? Whilst Shamila Batohi’s recent appointment as NPA head raised some hope, we are under no illusions that when corruption endears itself as it seems to have in the NPA, installing a new head may not be enough.
Justice Yvonne Mokgoro’s inquiry into Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi’s fitness to hold office is under way, but deep doubts persist. The reason for this stubborn persistence of doubt is how these two officials, over and above the allegations of impropriety which have led to the Mokgoro inquiry, are also implicated by Agrizzi. The allegations that the network of wholesale bribery and corruption set up at Bosasa, was bold and wide enough to engulf top prosecutors, leaves deep-seated doubt that the ruling ANC will be able to eliminate the scourge of corruption.
Possibly the most unsettling thing about the Bosasa saga is how it seems to have been elaborately planned with the knowledge of political leaders. It is the structural aspect of how it merges into how government does business which is most disturbing. It is the same structure which is evident in the Gupta companies in their businesses dealing with government. It all hinges on buying favours from influential political players who then do everything to channel lucrative tenders towards the company and protect it. The company will then finance the lavish lifestyles of political players, make donations to political parties or host their events etc. It is a dirty setup, which taints everything.
As a result of this very setup, put up by people who pretend to abhor capitalism’s faults, something far worse is established; greed and corruption. Those who pretend to be champions of our people are at the forefront of redirecting the vast resources at the disposal of the state towards themselves. Thousands of similar networks designed for one thing, to channel public resources towards politicians and their close associates, may be operating around the clock all over South Africa. And we sit and wonder why there is no service delivery, no investment in public infrastructure, no meaningful growth in the economy, whilst it is these parasites and their parasitic networks which are bleeding the country dry.
But the question remains. Seeing the enormity of the work to be done to rid our country of corruption, is the ANC equipped to make this happen? Seeing as it is that these networks have flourished in front of the ANC and for benefit of its leaders, can it reverse the scourge? Considering the subversive and clandestine nature of these networks, can the ANC lead the charge to brutally investigate, expose and arrest all the perpetrators? Looking at the factionalism which has been promoted by the wild feeding frenzy of corruption and theft, is it possible for “comrades” to stand firmly and send their guilty “comrades” to jail?
What should be clear is that, from here on, nothing less than the whole truth will set us free. South Africa must move away from flirting with crime and corruption as some “means” of closing the wealth gap between the previously disadvantaged and their counterparts. We need a genuine new start. No political games, lies or spin will make this happen! Will the ANC do it? Can it do it? If not, who will?..

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