Banish corruption fatigue: our nation depends on it
T his weekend is exactly six months since President Cyril Ramaphosa stood on a podium to announce the hard Lockdown on 26 March. We have come a long way. We started this week on a positive note as we migrated to Lockdown Level 1 at midnight on Monday. And with that came the further easing of restrictions and the announcement on the pending opening of our borders, for international travel.
But some, if not most, would have barely paid attention to the announcement as Lockdown fatigue seems to have set in. TV audiences also show a similar trend as millions of viewers initially tuned in to watch the Presidential updates on Covid-19.
But these numbers have dwindled over time.
This is understandable, but also a dangerous mindset. We have all seen how complacency is the perfect breeding ground to more infections and a devastating “second wave”, as seen in some parts of Europe and the UK.
What also seems to have escaped our attention are developments at the Zondo Commission into State Capture. On the witness stand were the former and current head of the Free State department of Human Settlements, who gave upsetting details of how more than R600-million meant to build houses vanished. Just like that. That’s more than half a billion paid out to contractors in an illegal scheme devised by then Human Settlements MEC Mosebenzi Zwane in 2010.
Former HOD Mpho Mokoena told the commission that Zwane had come up with the R1-billion housing scheme after the department failed to use ringfenced funds within the stipulated financial year. To avoid forfeiting the money to the National Treasury which would have allocated the funds to a better-performing province – Zwane directed that more than R600-million be paid to at least 100 companies before a single sod was turned.
Mokoena’s successor Nthimotse Mokhesi told the commission that the houses were never built. At best, some foundations had been constructed.
No one has been held accountable for this looting of grand proportions.
This effectively meant that not only was Zwane an incompetent political head but he was not deserving of any significant role in the public service.
But in Jacob Zuma’s grand scheme of corruption and state capture, Zwane whose name is also central to the Vrede Dairy Farm scandal - was rewarded with a cabinet post. As Minerals Resources minister, he will be remembered for his part in strong-arming Glencore to sell their Optimum mine to the Gupta criminal empire.
But 10 years after blatant looting of Free State government coffers, Zwane is sitting comfortably as chairperson of the Transport portfolio committee. How is it that someone who facilitated corruption of such gigantic proportions is rewarded with a parliamentary seat?
What is clear is that the ANC has a high tolerance for corruption. What is equally disconcerting is the sense that we may have developed corruption fatigue as a nation.
With all the details that emerged at the Zondo Commission this week, we have moved on as though it is another day in corrupt South Africa. Where are the protests, the vociferous calls for action against Zwane and every other corrupt looter of state coffers?
The corruption related to PPE procurement during lockdown shows that while Zuma and the Guptas may be gone, the remnants of their grand corruption scheme remain.
The PPE is a continuation of the looting perfected during the past. A second wave of corruption, if you will.
We must continue to demand action against those who are corrupt at all levels. Our democracy depends on it. DM168