Corporate SA must seize the moment

BIG BUSINESS NEEDS PROBE TO CLEAN UP SHOP AFTER #GUPTALEAKS Many people are sick and tired of being sick and tired, so it’s time to do something about it and hurt those implicated where it counts – on their bottom line.

I’m getting sick and tired of reading #GuptaLeaks about how the ANC’s let a corrupt and politically connected family, who weren’t even South African a few years ago, brazenly steal from a long list of state-owned entities for the benefit of their back pocket.

I’m tired of hearing how the ANC – the same ruling party that gave us Nelson Mandela and the rainbow nation – lay prostrate and offered little or no resistance to the systematic plunder of state resources, which has been breathtaking in its scope and coordination.

Lastly, I’m feeling a little sick of the inaction of law enforcement agencies and their most pathetic of leaders (that’s you, Shaun Abrahams) to investigate these people and bring them to book, despite evidence mounting on a daily basis suggesting the ANC is nothing more than a front for the most organised crime syndicate in the southern hemisphere.

Fortunately, outside of the captured, civil society’s been more than forthright in condemning what’s happened. This has even extended to members of the alliance – although the condemnation rings hollow when none of those condemning have seen fit to resign from their cushy jobs as ministers and deputy ministers.

But the anger and indignation reached new levels when it was revealed that global multinational brands including the likes of KPMG, Bell Pottinger, McKinsey and SAP, have enabled and abetted state capture. KPMG, McKinsey and SAP have all denied any wrongdoing.

As opposed to conflicted and incompetent politicians who owe their professional careers solely to the vagaries of No 1, these companies are apparently staffed and led by people highly qualified and highly paid, who should have known better.

And yet now outed, they stand behind the veneer of knowing there’s a president in charge of the captured state who’s going to do everything in his power to prevent any real investigation from happening. Thereby they’re let off the hook while maintaining their innocence.

This has to end. If corporate SA wants to avoid looking like hypocrites, someone needs to show leadership and apply pressure. A call by Business Leadership South Africa (representing SA’s 80 largest listed companies) and Business Unity South Africa – representing virtually every business in SA via its umbrella association – endorsed by their respective memberships, for companies fingered in the #GuptaLeaks to comply with a full, independent investigation led by a capable, well-resourced, unconflicted law firm into what’s happened (or risk being boycotted) would go some way to cleaning the private sector’s own shop.

If the companies choose not to participate and a boycott’s endorsed, the collective loss of business, would, in my opinion, force them to effectively withdraw from SA. Good riddance.

Business Leadership SA and Business Unity SA were unavailable for comment.