Sanco shocked at remark nation must ‘forgive’ capture

THE SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) said it was shocked by utterances by a cabinet minister and ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) president Bathabile Dlamini that citizens should forgive state capture like it forgave apartheid.

“We hope Dlamini’s scandalous view is not shared by the ANCWL or any of the leaders standing for election in the ANC 54th elective conference because it flies in the face of the ANC’s commitment to deal with the scourge of corruption,” said Sanco national spokesperson Jabu Mahlangu.

“Any suggestion that those looting state resources at an unprecedented massive scale while making a mockery of our criminal justice system and anti-corruption measures might be left off the hook will ring the death knell for the ruling party if heeded.”

Sanco is an alliance partner of the ruling ANC. In an interview with News24, Dlamini was quoted as saying: “South Africans, why are they not forgiving? Why are they not saying,‘let’s give Carl (Niehaus) an opportunity to change’,” Dlamini said.

She was asked about the lack of consequences for people implicated in the leaked Gupta e-mails, including Niehaus, a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association. Mahlangu said the ANC should distance itself from Dlamini’s comments. “Her claim that everyone in the ANC NEC has ‘smallanyana’ skeletons raises questions of moral and ethical leadership.” – African News Agency/ ANA