SACP urges action against corruption
SACP leader Blade Nzimande has warned that the ANC could be flirting with danger if it failed to deal decisively with corruption.
Nzimande sounded this warning yesterday as the party reaffirmed its stance that capitalism and disinvestment were at the heart of the country’s economic problems.
Simultaneously, Nzimande admitted that the ANC-led government was beset by “weaknesses and failures”.
“They (opposition) are abetted in this endeavour precisely by weaknesses and failures on our side.
“In particular, as a movement we need to implement more decisively key anti-corruption resolutions like those adopted at the ANC’s 2012 Mangaung national conference,” Nzimande said.
He was addressing journalists at the SACP’s end-of-year central committee meeting in Joburg.
Media reports have suggested that the ANC was backtracking on its commitment to sanction its senior members facing criminal or corruption charges.
Nzimande called on the ANC to take tough action against its corrupt members.
“This included the resolution that those in our ranks facing criminal charges… should stand down from their party political and government positions. It is costing us publicly as a movement that we are not moving decisively.”
Nzimande emphasised the corrosive dangers of gatekeeping and money in politics.
“There are also widespread indications of money politics at play and even of business people having a direct hand into appointments into positions within the state,” he said.
Nzimande warned of dire consequences if the government did not act decisively.
“Unless corruption and corporate-capture are dealt with severely and decisively, these problems risk becoming systemic and difficult to reverse. We are saying the integrity committee must be involved. We think that we need more willpower and (decisiveness).”
He called for criminal prosecution of those implicated in acts of corruption. He also labelled the DA “neo-liberals” and the EFF “pseudo-left populists” for their unwavering stance that President Jacob Zuma must account to Parliament for the Nkandla scandal.