Book exposing corrupt elite to launch in East London

A book detailing how corrupt politicians and corporations have crippled the SA economy and plunged many into poverty is set to be launched, in conjunction with Dispatch Dialogues on Tuesday night.

The Unaccountables: The Powerful Politicians and Corporations who Profit from Impunity will be launched at the University of Fort Hare’s Miriam Makeba Hall in the East London CBD.

The book is co-edited by Michael Marchant, Mamello Mosiana, Ra’eesa Pather and Hennie van Vuuren from Open Secrets, a non-profit organisation which exposes and builds accountability for private sector economic crimes through investigative research, advocacy, and the law.

Attorney Mvuzo Notyesi, president of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers, will host a discussion involving Van Vuuren and Pather.

The co-editors will be joined by book contributor and freelance journalist Lucas Nowicki.

Van Vuuren is director of Open Secrets and Pather is an investigator at the same NPO.

According to the book’s introduction, there is not one single explanation for the “pervasive poverty and high levels of inequality” in SA.

“However, a key cause is endemic corruption and economic crime.

“It undermines human rights and deepens inequality.

“Such acts of violence by powerful individuals and corporations drive millions into poverty.

“Economic crimes and corruption are committed by a small band of the powerful, but they pose fundamental threats to democracy and social justice.

“Open Secrets has a mission to disrupt these networks and pursue accountability.

“We do so because we want a society in which the powerful do not monopolise resources and influence.

“This book represents the collective effort of our small, tenacious and dedicated team.

“Many of our colleagues at Open Secrets, past and present, contributed to the investigations and writing contained in this book.

“The Unaccountables contains 35 profiles of unaccountable corporations and private individuals, as well as politicians and state institutions.

“All of them have played a role in crimes that have had grave social consequences.”

To secure a seat at the launch, at which starts at 6pm on Tuesday, send an email to rsvp@jacana.co.za by Monday November 28.

The co-editors will be joined by book contributor and freelance journalist Lucas Nowicki