Tenders blamed for killings
Moerane Commission’s report reveals causes of political violence in KZN
FIGHTING for financial resources via lucrative state tenders had been established as the root cause of political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, according to the Moerane Commission of Inquiry report, made public yesterday.
“There was overwhelming evidence from the majority of witnesses that access to resources through the tender system is the main root cause of the murder of politicians,” the report said.
The 424-page document was presented to the KZN Legislature, and journalists were provided with hard copies.
It is unclear when copies will be made available online for the public.
The report stated that there had been “ample evidence” placed before the commission that constitutional provisions for contracts of goods and services to be dispersed in a “fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective” manner had been “violated”. That violation was in the form of “manipulation and exploitation by politicians and public officials in collusion with business people”.
The commission was established in October 2016 and was chaired by senior advocate Marumo Moerane, SC, and was mandated to investigate the underlying causes of political violence in KZN. More than 60 witnesses testified before Moerane, Professor Cheryl Potgieter and advocate Vasu Gounden.
The report recommended, among other things, that immediate measures be taken to “depoliticise and professionalise the public service”.
“The state must rebuild a public service that is driven by the politics of delivery and public service and not the politics of patronage of personal accumulation. The state must also take measures to immediately enforce the separation of powers, duties and functions between public representatives and public officials and hold each accountable, professionally and criminally, for their respective conduct,” according to the report.
Government functionaries, without exception, had to have the appropriate qualifications for their posts. It was also recommended that employing political deployees in government who did not have appropriate qualifications “must be discouraged”.
The investigation of corrupt activities and criminal acts by politicians, public officials and business people must be investigated, stated the report. If parties were found to be guilty, they should be appropriately sentenced.
This would rebuild the confidence of the public in the public service and avoid encouraging “a culture of impunity and a culture where perpetrators believe that they are politically protected from prosecution and punishment”, said the report.
It was also recommended that political parties build a strong membership base that was rooted in democratic values, political competition, tolerance, sound moral values and service to the public. THERE is one day in the year when crazy is the order of the day.
The Red Bull Box Cart Race took place on Sunday, for 500m down Sandton Drive. After an eight-year hiatus, an eventful, action-packed day saw team SA Bobsled from Benoni electrify the thousands who gathered along the street to cheer them on.
The winning team, comprising Stuart Turner, John Turner, Gareth Turner and Lloyd Herbst, had the spectators laughing at their green lycra bodyhugging outfits.
“It was me, my brother, father and childhood friend Lloyd. We got basic tubing and old bicycle bits and put a frame together, then had the idea to make a bobsled, like from the movie Cool Runnings, and it fit in with the theme. We thought it would be funny to have a South African bobsled. It