Prosecutors get more muscle against graft
Need to act urgently against those guilty of corruption
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa last night announced his intention to establish an investigative directorate within the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) to tackle serious corruption.
Delivering his second State of the Nation Address in Parliament yesterday, Ramaphosa also used the occasion to announce to the nation that elections would be held on May8.
He also revealed the much-awaited plans to unbundle the troubled power utility Eskom into three separate entities.
Ramaphosa said the revelations emerging from the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture and other commissions were deeply disturbing.
“Where there is a basis to prosecute, prosecutions must follow swiftly and stolen public funds must be recovered urgently.”
He said he had agreed with National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi that there was an urgent need to establish, in the office of the NDPP, an investigating directorate dealing with serious corruption and associated offences.
“I will soon be promulgating a proclamation that will set out the specific terms of reference of the directorate.
“In broad terms, the directorate will focus on the evidence that has emerged from the Zondo Commission, other commissions and disciplinary inquiries,” Ramaphosa said.
He said the new directorate would identify priority cases to investigate and prosecute and would recover assets identified as the proceeds of corruption.
“The directorate will bring together a range of investigatory and prosecutorial capacity from within the government and in the private sector under an investigating director reporting to the NDPP.
“In the longer term, we will work with the NPA and other agencies of law enforcement to develop a more enduring solution that will strengthen the capacity of the criminal justice system to deal with corruption,” said Ramaphosa.
He acknowledged that Eskom was in crisis and said the risks it posed to South Africa were great.
“It could severely damage our economic and social development ambitions. We need to take bold decisions and decisive action,” Ramaphosa said.
“The consequences may be painful, but they will be even more devastating if we delay.”
He said the government would lead a process with labour, Eskom and other stakeholders to work out the details of a just transition, and proper, credible and sustainable plans that would address the needs of all those who might be affected.
Ramaphosa said Finance Minister Tito Mboweni would provide further details in his Budget speech on February 20.
Ramaphosa also challenged Eskom to develop a new business model.
“We shall immediately embark on a process of establishing three separate entities – generation, transmission and distribution – under Eskom Holdings.
“This will ensure that we isolate cost and give responsibility to each appropriate entity,” he said.
He added that of particular and immediate importance was for Eskom to manage an independent state-owned transmission grid combined with the systems operator and power planning, procurement and buying functions.
“It is imperative that we undertake these measures without delay to stabilise Eskom’s finances, ensure security of electricity supply, and establish the basis for long-term sustainability.”
The proposal arose from recommendation made by a task team appointed by Ramaphosa that made presentations to the Cabinet lekgotla.
The plans to unbundle Eskom are likely to be rejected by trade unions such as the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the National Union of Mineworkers.
The unions have already voiced their opposition to the planned move, saying it would be a recipe for retrenchments.
Ramaphosa announced May 8 as the date of the election.
“We wish to remind all eligible South Africans who have not yet registered as voters that they still have until the wproclamation of the election date to register.”
Last night’s Sona went smoothly without disruption, despite threats from the EFF to turn it into a question-andanswer session. The red berets had threatened to disrupt it unless Ramaphosa came clean on Bosasa.
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