Don’t sweep State capture report under rug
THE first of the three-part reports into the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State, commonly known as the Zondo Commission, could hardly be more damning.
The findings are a national disgrace and a crime against South Africans as it undermines democracy, the Constitution and most importantly, it affects economic growth.
The State Capture Commission has delivered incriminatory findings all of which occurred under the management of the government led by the ruling party, the ANC.
Such gross mismanagement of state owned entities by highly paid directors is unacceptable.
The Companies Act clearly states that directors can be personally held liable for any losses or debts sustained by a company because of their reckless trading.
Such disrespect for the rule of law cannot go with immunity; the government must walk the talk by following and implementing swiftly the recommendations contained in the State Capture Inquiry report. Moreover, if found guilty the required sanctions need to be implemented. It would be a travesty of justice if those implicated
in the state capture report are not dealt with accordingly.
Civil society must ensure that those implicated be criminally prosecuted for their abuse of power in order to ensure similar crimes will not be repeated in the future.
The report should not be swept under the carpet as the effectiveness of the report is in implementing the measures to remedy the abuse of power.
MOHAMED SAEED |