Sisulu: Fighting, exposing and rooting out corruption remains my top priority

When a newspaper like the Guardian reports on corruption, it should at least report the truth and facts, especially in a democracy where freedom of the press fundamentally means the freedom to inform the public. A story must truthfully inform the public and not manipulate them; to deepen public discourse by raising the level of debate and discussion, not by cheapening it with speculation, office corridor gossip and sensationalism.

However, the story published in the 13 August edition, “Water board overhaul imminent”, is far from reporting the truth. It claims the human settlements department has been plagued by corruption scandals, including claims that I used department resources to appoint people central to a plan to contest the ANC presidency next year.

This is not factual and borders on defamation and clear character assassination. The has committed the worst crime by printing this story as fact without giving me a right of reply as enshrined in the Press Code.

The newspaper further claims that I cleaned the house in several entities after my appointment, making a series of appointments that included key leaders of the radical economic transformation faction in the ANC. This is false.

The newspaper article further claims that among those I appointed are former ANC Youth League leader

Magasela Mzobe, who chairs the interim board at Umgeni Water, and ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini, appointed to head the interim board at the Social Housing Regulatory Authority.

“Sisulu also appointed a National Rapid Response Task Team at the cost of R13.9-million, which her critics in the department claimed had been installed to run her campaign for the ANC presidency in 2022 at taxpayers cost,” it said.

This is also not based on facts.

As a newspaper that understands the ins and outgoings in the ANC, the

knows very well that nominations for the 2022 leadership contest have not opened, but still drags my name into this. I have never campaigned for 2022 leadership, nor have I made it known that I wish to contest. In the 2017 conference, I did contest and was duly elected into the ANC NEC [national executive committee] and the NWC [national working committee]. In every portfolio I served, fighting corruption was and will remain what I do. I had worked with the Special Investigating Unit, which found procurement irregularities, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, irregular expenditure, fraud and theft, all depicting high levels of corruption at water and sanitation.

I want to preserve as much of that good work as I can. I am determined to serve our people and to be worthy of their trust. That is why I will never rest until those implicated in corruption at Amatola Water Board face the full might of the law.