New state capture report wake-up call – Ramaphosa

ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa said the damning report released by the SA Council of Churches on state capture should act as a wake-up call for the party to clean up its act and restore the confidence it had once enjoyed.

The report, titled “Unburdening Panel”, painted a disturbing picture of state entities that had been used to enrich a powerful elite close to President Jacob Zuma.

The panel was established after allegations that former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas had been offered a bribe by the Gupta family.

“South Africa may be inches away from a mafia state from which there could be no return ... a recipe for a failed state,” the SACC said in the report.

“We urge the ANC to examine itself‚ find a way ... and act, as this has implications for it and its government.”

Speaking at the Moses Kotane lecture in Rustenburg‚ Ramaphosa said: “The SACC stood up on a public platform and said we are on the brink of a mafia state. That is very sad.”

“If we, as the ANC, are to recover the leadership role in society‚ it is imperative that we act urgently.”

It was time for the state capture allegations to be investigated and put to bed.

“We need to find the truth and clear it up through an independent judicial commission,” Ramaphosa said. “We should investigate and conclude it before the 2019 elections.”

The commission would expose the extent of state capture and how‚ if at all‚ it had enriched a few.

Ramphosa called for an end to capture‚ corruption and cronyism‚ saying that the party’s followers now had doubts about what the ANC stood for.

To curb this‚ the party needed to self-introspect and rebrand itself.

As the ANC gears up for its policy conference next month‚ Ramaphosa said this would be the perfect time for the party to rejuvenate.

“When [the party] emerges from that conference‚ it must be spick and span‚ ready for 2019‚” he said‚ adding that the party would remain united.

He called on the SACP members to follow in the steps of struggle stalwart Moses Kotane‚ who had been concerned about the people‚ listened to their grievances and acted with integrity.

He said Kotane would have strived for an uncaptured ANC‚ free of corruption and factionalism.