Sarb governor’s noble call for clarity
GOVERNOR of the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) Lesetja Kganyago has called on the Hawks to probe the billions he is said to own. Kganyago’s alleged billions would make for a mouthwatering armour in the arsenal of arrows recently flung at the bank.
Yet his almost unperturbed call for the investigation shows integrity and the desire and ability to shoulder the principle of transparency.
The test of integrity for an allegation is whether it is true or false. But the need for it to be seen at times pushes you to nakedness.
Kganyago not only passed the muster of honesty and integrity through a transparent process. He went “naked” and reported that the shares he has are worth a mere R133 000. South Africans have not dressed themselves in glory.
We have demonstrated greater proclivity for straying. The penchant for wrongdoing happens even within the highest authority in the land – Parliament. More than once the public protector and the judiciary have pointed to malfeasance by lawmakers. The auditor-general remained appalled by inaction.
Human Rights Foundation research last month deposed to information that passes a fatal indictment on those laying claim of being public representatives – Parliament. It is the institution that is least trusted by the public.
The level of disgrace in post-apartheid South Africa has left demons in our collective psyche and thrown the country into an economic nightmare.
We hope that the new dawn brings a degree of modesty and honesty to our elected officials and to ourselves as we pinch our collective conscience – asking ourselves the painful question of what happened and how did we get here.
Fallible mortals
I have no doubt that parliamentarians are fallible mortals who are just as human as non-parliamentarians. But once they are sworn-in to uphold the constitution, their yardstick becomes saintly. They are expected to act mindful of oath of office.
Despite the commendable cleansing ritual they have been working hard in recent times, their actions are contradictory.
At the one level the message is of a Judas Iscariot betraying their own – evidence shows that they obediently tolerated and affirmed with unconscionable enthusiasm the behaviour that brought South Africa to its knees.
The other message is one that brings hope. This is that no matter how delinquent the system is, there are men and women within it that will work for good.
By cannibalising their own, the parliamentarians send a clear message that in the final analysis what is fundamental in mastering political authority and delivering the best for South Africa is upholding the constitution at all times.
That means voting with conscience. This is the prime mover of being an honourable member, especially where the line is drawn between party survival and constitutional imperatives.
Those on the wrong side of principle make for a sorry and pity rendering episode.
When asked to face their colleagues to discuss and account for how they decided to deploy the borrowed power on behalf of its holders, some fall sick for days on end, seeking at times legal advice, including demanding to receive questions in advance.
In order not to suffer a double jeopardy, we should realise that a rich South African curriculum is being jotted from Life Esidimeni to Guptagate Eskom, Transnet, SAA, Home Affairs – you name them.
There is a saying among Africans that addresses an uncle who has defiled his matrimonial responsibilities and swears by his ancestors that it was the first and the very last time that his conjugal energies sought comfort outside the matrimonial bed.
Despite his confessions about the last time, the wife and family are not convinced that his practices have come to an end.
It is captured thus “where water once accumulated, it will accumulate again.” South Africans have seen water accumulate in the legislature before and there is no guarantee that it will not do so in the future. But all is not doom and gloom.
Kganyago has consistently demonstrated that he will not allow water to ever accumulate at Sarb and there is no space for it to accumulate in the future.
He has pushed for transparency even when this left him naked. It is an honourable nakedness to appropriate.
Rebuilding our country requires of us to take a leaf from the books of Thuli Madonsela, Mogoeng Mogoeng and others who have observed the constitution and challenged arrogation of borrowed power.
It calls on us to look up to those who made it their business to restore such power and dignity to its legitimate owners – the people.