Imbizo spells out demands
The national imbizo convened by the South African Communist Party in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, at the weekend, has adopted a declaration on a “minimum platform of action” anchored on various demands, including the urgent appointment of an independent judicial commission of inquiry into state capture, which was the key remedial action required by the Public Protector.
The declaration also demanded urgent attention to ensuring good corporate governance and adherence to developmental mandates and public interest priorities in state-owned entities.
“In particular, we call for the dissolution of the Eskom board and the reversal of the irregular reappointment of the Eskom CEO [Brian Molefe],” the declaration issued yesterday said.
The imbizo was convened in the context of “deepening, society-wide concern about challenges of leadership, moral decay, and multiple social and economic crises”.
The imbizo was attended by more than 230 participants drawn from 33 organisations, including the SACP, ANC, the Congress of SA Trade Unions, SA National Civic Organisation, ANC stalwarts and veterans, the Young Communists League of SA, JHB Against Injustice, Business Leadership South Africa, Save South Africa, various components of the community constituency in Nedlac, and grassroots activists.
The imbizo also received a presentation from the SA Council of Churches’ “unburdening panel” and shared their concerns on state capture.
“Notwithstanding the diversity of the participants present, we all broadly agreed about the nature of the challenges facing our country and the imperative of developing a common minimum platform.
“Despite many advances, we have not effectively responded to the persisting social and economic crises in which the majority of South Africans find themselves. The ability to fundamentally transform society is now being corroded by systemic corruption in both the public and private sectors,” the document said.
The declaration further demanded an immediate end to the abuse and factionalising of the criminal justice system, notably the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority and the intelligence services.
Important attention also needed to be paid to rebuilding public trust in the SA Police Service and SA Revenue Service. This trust was being eroded by a perception that those responsible for arresting, prosecuting, and convicting those implicated in corrupt activities were either selective or lax in executing their duties.
Other demands included strengthening the oversight of parliament; a call for the immediate implementation of the alliance’s own decision for lifestyle audits of public representatives; and halting the rollout of the nuclear new build programme.