Churches join anti-Zuma crusade
Former ally SACC urges members to preach against ANC corruption
The South African Council of Churches’ report on state capture is going to be preached from pulpits across the country.
The SACC has warned that South Africa may just be a few inches from the throes of a Mafia state from where they might be no return.
The organisation released the damning report at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto yesterday, condemning corruption in government.
Those implicated in the report included President Jacob Zuma and Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba.
The report alleges that former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene was fired after he refused to sign a letter sealing the nuclear deal.
In 2011, Barbara Hogan was fired as public enterprise minister and replaced with Gigaba. Gigaba soon thereafter announced Iqbal Sharma, who is in business with the Guptas, as Transnet board chairman.
The information about state capture was presented to the SACC’s unburdening panel process which saw many people working or those who have worked for the government making representations.
It revealed observable trends of inappropriate control of state systems through a power-elite that was pivoted around Zuma and that was systematically siphoning the assets of the state.
This was done, the SACC said, by securing control of the intelligence and security apparatus, the country’s fiscal sovereignty and state wealth through the capture of stateowned companies by chronical- ly weakening their governance and operational structures.
The public service was also compromised by ridding it of skilled professionals.
“We are going to write a pastoral letter that has go to the churches so that the churches can discuss it [the report on state capture] in their languages,” SACC general-secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana said.
“We urge the ANC, as the governing party, to examine itself and mend the ways of government before we reach the point of no return.”
The report was also sent to the ANC, but secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said it was no different from the one issued by the public protector last year.
The move by the SACC, which supported the ANC during the Struggle, is likely to have serious implications for the party, which is facing its worst crisis under Zuma. Last year, the SACC met with the party’s top officials and called for Zuma to resign.
Asked if Zuma was corrupt, Mpumlwana said: “The jury is still out.”