Cancer of corruption is killing SA

Individual by individual, an endemic corruption wave is growing within South African society. As a result of this contagious disease, we are now caught up in a situation where many sectors are steeped in wrongdoing, including those charged with controlling corruption itself, from the politicians who write the laws to the law enforcement authorities charged with enforcing it.

There is no disputing that corruption, particularly its political manifestations, is the bane of democratic consolidation in South Africa.

While democracy is widely accepted to control corruption, democratic South Africa has done no better than other nations in Africa at checking it.

It is indeed tragic how one man unleashed a plague of corThe ruption on our hard-won democracy. Corruption is so prevalent that it is practised openly without any pretext at invisibility.

It has eaten so deep into our body politics that its practice is seen more like a societal norm than an exception.

People have imbibed the belief that hard work, honesty and integrity are not worthy principles.

Despite all efforts, we are still haunted by cases of corruption, from the lowest rungs to the executive. The sad thing is that the only roaring business in the country is corruption.

Democracy and its consolidation hinge on the adherence to the law. Political corruption does the opposite.

Benoni

Farouk Araie,