Tutu chastised ANC for corruption

THE late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu warned a number of people during his tenure as a man of God.

To the ANC of those times he clearly expressed his stance against corruption.

Result thus far: greedy hands have multiplied exponentially as the coffers of this country continue to be looted by the old and the new people in power.

Fearlessly, he chided past president Thabo Mbeki for his “non-medical” diagnosis that there was no link between HIV and Aids. (“How can a virus cause a syndrome?”).

This stance sent tens of thousands to a premature death who were denied the medication because they did not meet the minimum CD4 count (used to check the health of the immune system in people infected with HIV).

Tutu also took former president Jacob Zuma to task for denying the Dalai Lama a visa to visit South Africa because of Chinese sympathy.

The archbishop was euphoric at the release of Nelson Mandela and, most understandably, foresaw a very bright future for human rights, an absence of all forms of thievery in government circles, satisfactory all-round development and economic progress with eradicating homelessness, hopelessness and helplessness.

Racism was at the top of his priority list, for which he became internationally recognised. Presidents of other countries invited him to advance advice for political peaceful change – the mostly non-violent brand that was a special one, only used once before in history by Mahatma Gandhi, in India.

Yes, this small-stature, near-saintly figure of the archbishop, fearless and outspoken as he was, achieved so much by harnessing secular human rights coupled with biblical injunctions and thorough political knowledge.

Or did he?

Let’s check the score sheet: Corruption in this country is more rife than ever. Nobody is brought to book even if caught.

The only achievements of lengthy tribunals are to enrich judges, lawyers, TV services and recording clerks.

Millions of rand disappeared those days. Now the stakes are in terms of billions that vanish from public coffers without a trace.

Racism, too, is alive and well, locally and internationally.

The Chinese trade influence in this country forces our leaders to follow an ostrich policy and hide their heads instead of challenging infringement of human rights in China.

Trade with India makes President Cyril Ramaphosa ignore the right-wing government there, which practises wholesale parliamentary-approved apartheid policies against certain sections of the population.

Apart from a superficial rejection of Israel’s lack of human rights, both this government and our major opposition are all pro-Zionist and not much is done to dismantle these defiant countries from promulgating illegal practices. Nothing is ever said about the tyrannical Arab states, either.

The US continues record killing of black people by white policemen, willy nilly, without much of our freedomloving ANC muttering much in annoyance.

How many Nelson Mandelas, Mahatma Gandhis and Desmond Tutus must be born and die before this world changes slightly for the better?