The ruling ANC must apologize to South Africans for the horror of the coup; become a Trojan horse for organized criminals and use state treasury for personal gain. In fact, this nation needs not only guidance, but compensation for the trauma of decades of corruption that has caused the destruction of key state institutions and entities. Corruption, seemingly in the DNA of the ANC, has always ruined South Africa’s arduous freedom and democracy, but it was in the past decade that the ruling party has taken corruption to astonishing levels. The party was not troubled by crooked elements within its ranks and its senior leaders…
The ruling ANC must apologize to South Africans for the horror of the coup; become a Trojan horse for organized criminals and use state treasury for personal gain.
In fact, this nation needs not only guidance, but compensation for the trauma of decades of corruption that has caused the destruction of key state institutions and entities.
Corruption, seemingly in the DNA of the ANC, has always ruined South Africa’s arduous freedom and democracy, but it was in the past decade that the ruling party has taken corruption to astonishing levels. The party did not suffer from crooked elements within its ranks and its senior leaders saw nothing wrong with statements such as “I did not join the struggle to be poor”, or politicians have the right to lie.
This is the attitude, driven by nothing but insatiable greed, that has plunged the entire nation into the pit of misery and depression. Who could forget the horror of the nation in 2013 when the Guptas, allied with ANC heavyweights, landed a private jet carrying wedding guests at Waterkloof Air Force Base, a national landmark?
The disgusting part of this whole episode of the coup is that we now have to believe it was the work of some bad apples within the party. In fact, it was the closeness of the party to state power and the silence of the many so-called good people that made it all possible and the party should take collective responsibility.
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Like the previous two parts, the third part of the state report released on Tuesday is an inescapable indictment of the ruling party, describing how Bosasa’s primary business plan kept the ANC in power. The company, which secured lucrative contracts with the government, did so by financing the party’s electoral machine in the form of a war chamber in the Bosasa business park.
This, according to the report, was to ensure that the ANC would remain in power and be able to appoint individuals to public office who could be influenced or seek to influence in Bosasa’s favour. The report points out that high-ranking party members such as Gwede Mantashe, the ruling party’s national chairman and cabinet minister, personally benefited from the party’s proximity to power and influence.
According to the 942-page report by acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, there are prima facie corruption cases against Mantashe, then party and state president Jacob Zuma and former cabinet minister Nomvula Mokonyane.
Testimony before the committee is that the trio received benefits from Bosasa, which received at least R2.37 billion in government contracts between 2000 and 2016.
This massive corruption has not only destroyed this country and its state officials, it has destroyed many lives and careers of sincere and patriotic South Africans. Key departments in the social and security clusters struggle with budget cuts as billions of rand have been raised from the state coffers.
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Communities have been dumped with substandard infrastructure, while important infrastructure such as water and sanitation, as well as electricity and the rail network is crumbling.
This is because money intended for these developments has been stolen under the supervision of a party that once carried the dreams and aspirations of a nation.
South Africans have been betrayed, their dream postponed and their land sold to the highest bidder. And they deserve an apology, or even guidance, and compensation for the trauma and loss.