The aftershocks of corruption

MAN-MADE disasters are the order of the day. Rampant crime and corruption with the latter reaching unprecedented notoriety is like a cancer eating into the fabric of our society.

The aftershocks of the crime of corruption is being felt long after political perpetrators have looted and left. The poorest of the poor (and the so-called middle class) are currently finding life in our beautiful land financially challenging and emotionally draining.

The current VBS Mutual Bank heist is yet another sad and tangible tale of man’s insatiable appetite for greed and corruption.

Two billion rand of investors’ funds have been fraudulently swindled courtesy of the alleged lack of oversight by KPMG. Remember the Steinhoff saga? Individuals within political parties have been implicated.

The high cost of fuel attributed to a weak rand/dollar exchange rate and the escalating price of crude oil are pushing the cost of living far beyond the lives of many.

Corruption is undoubtedly playing a cloak-and-dagger role in our weakening currency.

Former president Jacob Zuma set up our country for financial ruin by allowing the infamous Gupta brothers unfettered fraudulent powers during their naturalisation citizenship stay.

The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture chaired by Judge Raymond Zondo is proving to be a revelation of sorts.

Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene resigned after admitting to the commission that he lied under oath. He had visited the Gupta household at Saxonworld on many occasions.

But will the head honchos (Zuma and the Gupta brothers) ever be brought to book? The outcome of the commission cannot come too soon.

A new year looms large. The ANC’s unity, rather than the tackling of moral/ ethical issues, seems to earn President Cyril Ramaphosa’s favour, much to the chagrin of many citizens fed up with corruption.