Time for justice to be done in state capture horror
The public should, by now, have become inured to the extent of the bribery, crookery and corruption so endemic in government and the public service. But the extent of the horror that is already emerging from the state capture commission of inquiry has pierced even the hardest shell of the most cynical citizen. Hearing from former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas about how the Gupta family threatened him and bragged of their inroads into key state enterprises as well as our intelligence and criminal justice systems – which effectively guaranteed them immunity from prosecution – is nothing short of sickening.
The public is now fully invested in seeing justice done.
But that justice is going to prove evasive if something is not urgently done about the state of our so-called elite investigative units and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
One’s already shaky confidence in the Hawks is completely eroded by Jonas’s revelations that a senior Hawks official attempted to squash a case he wanted to make against the Guptas. Part of the problem is that the NPA has been denuded of talent in the years leading up to NPA boss Shaun Abraham’s tenure and, even more so, with him at the helm.
Despite serious competition from some former heads of the NPA, he has been the weakest leader ever to grace its decaying halls. His rejection of principle has led to principled people leaving in droves.
His lack of moral courage and leadership has forced out those who thrive on excellence.
The best prosecutorial bulldogs departed. Our criminal justice system is particularly lacking in expertise in money matters including fraud, money laundering and corruption.
There is still hope of justice if the state plays its cards right.
The state would do well to bring back the bulldogs that left the NPA during the dark days.
It must also hire experienced counsel to direct both investigations and prosecutions emerging from the state capture inquiry.
The state must do whatever it takes to successfully prosecute those that have robbed our democracy blind.
Despite serious competition from some former heads of the NPA, Abrahams has been the weakest