CPS: No, we are not corrupt

The war of words between Corruption Watch and the government’s social grants service provider, Cash Paymaster Services, is set to intensify as the anti-graft watchdog refused to retract public statements it made about CPS.

CPS lawyers wrote to Corruption Watch complaining about media statements made by their executive director David Lewis.

The CPS expressed concern about the statements’ possible implication of corruption on their part, connected to the social grants debacle.

CPS said Lewis’ statements appeared permanently on the internet. As the statements emanated from a reputable person and organisations they carried great weight with the public, said CPS.

“The statement would cause any rea- sonable viewer or listener to believe that our client has been engaged in corruption with the government to advance its interests in relation to a contract (and its extension) to distribute social grants to vulnerable people in our society,” CPS attorneys said.

They said the statements were profoundly damaging to CPS reputation and dignity as they impute criminal conduct of considerable scale and depravity to it.

The lawyers asked that the statements be retracted but Lewis refused.

In his response, Lewis disagreed with CPS’s claim and its interpretation of his public statements. He told CPS lawyers that Corruption Watch would address the contentions fully should the need arise.

“For the moment, it suffices to say that both Corruption Watch and I decline to retract the statements.” Lewis accused CPS of engaging in a transparent attempt to curb a legitimate debate.