Time for private prosecutions

IT SURELY takes a lot for a civil servant with 36 years of distinguished service and six years before retirement to resign.

This clearly shows something drastically wrong in the leadership of the relevant department, and probably more will follow.

It is strange that the head of the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions did not resign after his disastrous fiasco with the minister of finance.

The avenue of private prosecutions against corrupt activities is long overdue in South Africa, and just as apartheid and colonialism (its predecessor) denied and diverted resources to benefit a select few, corruption by officials and politicians is no different.

Anti-apartheid cases and lawyers received extensive legal funding from the Nordic and Western democracies, and for some attorneys this was the bulk of their legal practice.

It is high time such a private unit was formed, as the state has failed miserably.

As for the sponsor, all organisations have to work within the framework of South Africa’s constitution and legal system so this can take care of itself.

This is going to be a long, tough journey and there is going to be lots of embarrassment for the politicians/civil servants (some of whom I’m sure are already feeling shivery).

To any corrupt official/civil servant: You can buy time but you won’t be able to escape the consequences.

The famous Holomisa coup against the Matanzima govern- ment in the former Transkei used politicians’ bank statements. This approach, gaining access to money/ asset trails, would be one of the easiest and quickest routes.

The ghost RDP houses and government tenders require investigation. Depending on the types of case and the success rate, don’t be surprised if this unit goes from strength to strength. It may end up with as much funding and prominence as the anti-apartheid political cases.

All sorts of conspiracy theories will soon emerge, just as the Nats played it.

The response has to be that if a politician/civil servant is caught with fingers in the cookie jar, he or she deserves no mercy.

Gerrie Nel has the courage of his convictions and is probably one of the best candidates to head this unit. MUHAMMAD OMAR Durban North