The poor aid and abet corruption

The poorest of the poor are sometimes the ones who empower and permit politicians to take advantage of them and to even loot their resources.

For the ANC’s Ike Maphoto branch in Polokwane to nominate former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba for the 2019 general election is shocking.

The chairperson of the branch, Mahlatse Kobe, argued: “You must know that Gigaba is a former leader of young people in this country. He’s been elected president of the ANC Youth League three times in a row, in 1996, 1998 and 2001.”

Gigaba might have been a good leader previously, but what he is now is totally different.

The fact that he is a former leader of young people doesn’t mean that he is still relevant and still subscribing to interests of the poorest of the poor. Gigaba has met with the corrupt Gupta family and he has lied under oath.

Clearly, he is a changed man who doesn’t care anymore about the poor who are suffering from high rate of unemployment, inequality and poverty. I agree unreservedly with political analyst Lesiba Tefo, who said: “I find it unfortunate that there are people in this glorious movement in this country who still believe that despite all the problems faced by Gigaba in the past 10 years, he should still be nominated to occupy a public office or to lead the people of South Africa.”

Our people are the ones empowering these politicians who think they are superior to the people they lead. They are arrogant, lie under oath and get away with it since they will be empowered again and again by some poor members of their organisations who don’t see a bigger picture.

Sam Difoe Magana, Dennilton