SACP imbizo calls for inquiry into state capture

THE national imbizo convened by the SACP in Boksburg at the weekend adopted a declaration on a “minimum platform of action” anchored on various demands.

This included the urgent appointment of an independent judicial commission of inquiry into state capture, the key remedial action required by the public protector.

The declaration also demanded urgent attention to ensure good corporate governance and adherence to developmental mandates and public-interest priorities in state-owned entities.

“In particular, we call for the dissolution of the Eskom board and reversal of the irregular reappointment of the Eskom CEO (Brian Molefe),” said the declaration, issued after the imbizo yesterday.

The imbizo was convened in the context of “deepening, society-wide concern about challenges of leadership, moral decay, and multiple social and economic crises”.

It was attended by more than 230 participants from 33 organisations, including the SACP, the ANC, Cosatu, the SA National Civic Organisation, the Young Communists League of SA, JHB Against Injustice, Business Leadership South Africa, Save South Africa, various components of the community constituency in Nedlac, and grassroots activists.

The imbizo also received a presentation from the SA Council of Churches’ “unburdening panel” and shared their concerns on state capture.

“Notwithstanding the diversity of the participants present, we all broadly agreed about the nature of the challenges facing our country and the imperative of developing a common minimum platform,” it said.

“The important gains we made collectively as South Africans from the mid-1990s in terms of building a unifying sense of nationhood, a vibrant non-racial democracy and a progressive constitution are now under threat.

“Despite many advances, we have not effectively responded to the persisting social and economic crises in which the majority of South Africans find themselves. The ability to fundamentally transform society is now being corroded by systemic corruption in both the public and private sectors.”

The declaration further demanded an immediate end to the abuse and “factionalising” of the criminal justice system, notably the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority and the intelligence services.

Important attention also needed to be paid to rebuilding public trust in the SAPS and SA Revenue Service, it said.

This trust was being eroded by a perception that those responsible for arresting, prosecuting and convicting those implicated in corrupt activities were either selective or lax in executing their duties.

Other demands included strengthening the oversight role of Parliament; support for, and a call for immediate implementation of, the alliance’s own decision for lifestyle audits of public representatives; and halting the rollout of the nuclear build programme pending the conclusion of consultations on the IRP16.

“We commit to campaign to promote the constitutional values of non-racialism, and to fight against xenophobia and tribalism,” the declaration said.

“We further commit to fight against the epidemic of genderbased violence. We accept that we all have the responsibility to self-introspect, to reflect on our own shortcomings and to deal decisively with internal weaknesses.

“Those of us from mass formations and grassroots organisations undertake to mobilise at a popular level and to make the connection between the diversion of public resources through state capture and weaknesses in addressing the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

“We commit to raising this minimum programme and these perspectives in our own constituencies, and to promote the initiatives we undertook this weekend.

“We will maintain a broad network of those gathered here and work to include others committed to the defence of our constitutional democracy,” the declaration concluded. – ANA

‘In particular, we call for the dissolution of the Eskom board’