Mantashe report asks: Can state capture be halted in tracks?
DISSENTING views on the concept of state capture are calling into question whether the ANC will effectively deal with both public and private sector corruption.
Outgoing ANC secretarygeneral Gwede Mantashe’s organisational report has given a stinging rebuke to the party’s “denial” of what he calls “the reality (of state capture) facing our country.”
In his report, presented behind closed doors, Mantashe was also critical of the disgraced multinational private companies which have been embroiled in fraud and corruption scandals recently.
“State capture is a reality facing our society that forms part of public discourse – including the legislature inquiries – and private debates,” Mantashe said.
“Also, established brands like KPMG, Bell Pottinger, McKinsey – and lately MultiChoice, are under threat as a result of association with state capture. Many in our movement are in denial that state capture is a reality facing our country.”
The outgoing secretarygeneral issued a stinging critique of what he believed was the ANC’s dithering response towards acting on the slew of damning allegations of state capture. Mantashe said “The entirety of the liberation movement is projected as corrupt.
“Big brands are being destroyed daily, including Bell Pottinger and KPMG. The ANC, being dented and ultimately destroyed while we are procrastinating,” Mantashe charged.
Earlier this month, Steinhoff – the multinational and diversified company listed in both Joburg and Frankfurt, Germany – became the latest private company to be faced with the ignominy of a fraud and corruption scandal. This was after Steinhoff admitted to “accounting irregularities”, which caused the firm to haemorrhage over R100 billion in value in what Cosatu – whose member unions have a stake in Steinhoff through the Public Investment Corporation – called “corruption at its best”.