More moral leaders needed

THE ANC under Jacob Zuma has lost the moral legitimacy to govern in the interests of all South Africans. This is the finding of the South African Council of Churches investigation into state capture by a power elite centred around Zuma.

The panel was set up after the ANC failed to act on disclosures by former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas and former MP Vytjie Mentor that they were allegedly offered positions and bribes to do the Guptas’ bidding.

The 36 member churches making up the SACC do have moral authority. A pastoral letter is to be issued across all congregations about the findings of the Unburdening Panel investigation. Those responsible for the serious systematic undermining of governance by creating a situation of “organised chaos” should worry about the power of prayer and discussion by faith communities.

The SACC said the rampant corruption behind efforts to capture all apparatus of the state and cabinet pushed SA towards becoming a mafia state. Jonas told the Durban business community the country had fallen victim to a “silent coup” and had become a “shadow state” riddled with corruption. The SA Communist Party is currently hosting a forum of political bodies, NGOs and civil society groups to look at the deepening crisis in the alliance. It leads because Zuma fails to do so. If people of faith and communists are speaking of threats to the country by the corrupt elite centred around Zuma, surely the ANC should take action?

Instead, what we see is the ANC Youth League in eThekwini trying to intimidate ANC MP Makhosi Khoza by threatening to picket outside her home or at events where she is invited to speak. Her crime in their eyes is to criticise the corruption in the ANC, Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle and the possible secret ballot in the proposed vote of no-confidence. Here is an ANC leader with a moral core. Where are the others?