South Africa’s law enforcement agencies seem to have no appetite to take action against politicians who have been implicated in corruption and mismanagement – despite damning evidence against them at various commissions and in explosive investigative reports.
With all the hard-hitting evidence already presented and in the public domain, the investigations and arrest of people implicated in State Capture and corruption would send a clear message to the public – that rogue elements have no place in our society.
While the SAPS, the NPA and Parliament drag their feet in holding the politically connected few accountable – foreign investment dries up and economic growth stagnates due to perceptions that South Africa is lenient on corruption and maladministration, especially when those implicated are deemed to be high-profile politicians and business people.
Worse, the public begins to lose faith in these systems, which ultimately is yet another contributing factor to the social unrest in the country, where South Africans believe that justice only comes when matters are taken into their own hands.
Over the past year alone, the Democratic Alliance has laid numerous criminal charges and complaints with the police and Parliament against various politically connected individuals, including:
- 17 July 2018: DA lays criminal charges against Ace Magashule at Parys SAPD under Section 2 of the Inquest Act for failure to report an alleged murder to the SAPD (Ace claimed that HOD, Sandile Msibi was poisoned).
- 03 September 2018 – Reported Vincent Smit to Joint Ethics Committee for breach of Parliamentary code of conduct over relationship with Bosasa.
- 14 September 2018 – Criminal charges against ANC officials over alleged Bosasa kickbacks.
- 3 October 2018 – Charges of perjury against Minister Bathabile Dlamini at the Johannesburg Central Police Station.
- 31 October 2018 – Criminal charges against Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and Section 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) following reports that he had allegedly siphoned a R2 million ‘donation’ from Vele Investments, in 2016 during his tenure as ANC treasurer-general, in return for his help in raising funds from municipalities and state institutions.
- 16 November 2018: DA lays criminal charges against Supra Mahumapelo for abusing his position to facilitate investing the people’s money in VBS bank
- In 22 November 2018 – Criminal charges against the EFF’s Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu and the party itself, following allegations that the party, through corrupt means, received R1.8 million from VBS Mutual Bank.
- 3 March 2019 – Aproached Adv. Shamila Batohi, in writing,to request that she proceeds with haste in charging the ANC – as a collective organisation – with the crimes of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering as per the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (“POCA” act).
- 7 April 2019 – Laid charges with SAPS on evidence of how the ANC was conspiring to instigate violence by coordinating plans with local affiliates on the ground to embark on violent protest actions, and sow anarchy during the election.
- 11 September 2019 – Reported Julius Malema to Parliament’s committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests, in order for this committee to investigate his non-compliance with the code of conduct of Parliament, and the rules and regulations regarding disclosure of interests following revelations that he might have benefited from looted VBS funds.
- The DA calls for, among other things, the reinstitution of charges against the accused in the Estina dairy matter, ensuring that former president Zuma’s application for a permanent stay of prosecution is vigorously opposed, and taking urgent steps to secure the extradition of members of the Gupta family in order to face justice in South Africa.
Hitherto, not a single of the cases brought against high-ranking officials and politicians has a docket, has been referred to the NPA for criminal prosecution or has an update given to the ethics committee in Parliament.
The failure to act on these charges sends a clear message to the public that the “New Dawn” is a farce.
The truth is there has been no change in the ANC since the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as President . The Ramaphosa -administration simply is not serious about rooting out corruption and holding those involved to account.
There has been much fanfare around taking corruption head-on with little to action taken, even in the face of strong evidence being presented.
If we cannot guarantee that the people’s money and investment into the economy will not be squandered, we cannot forget about restoring public order and trust, and building a strong and inclusive economy that benefits all.
The DA believes law enforcement agencies have all the evidence they need to investigate and prosecute those implicated in wrongdoing and to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.