ANC sending mixed signals on corruption

“ANC President, Jacob Zuma, says high levels of corruption in government remains a worrying factor. Zuma says corruption is tainting the image of his party, adding that they have to root out corruption within their ranks in order to preserve the dignity of the ruling party.” (SABC)

While the message from Windhoek during the ANC president’s meeting with SWAPO on Wednesday is in line with the thinking of most South Africans on this issue, the actions being taken by the government in respect of corruption do not appear to support that view.

Firstly, in response to calls for a commission of inquiry into the arms deal, president Motlanthe’s spokesman has gone on record as saying that the probe will not be launched although the government remains determined that those suspected of wrongdoing be brought to court. In addition, those people with any information on the subject should take it to the law enforcement agencies.

I’m sure that Patricia De Lille and the rest of the people who have been swamping the state with information on this issue for years will be exasperated by this response.

This brings us to our second issue: the decision to disband the Scorpions despite the report of Judge Sisi Khampepe, appointed by former president Thabo Mbeki in June 2006 to investigate the mandate of the Directorate of Special Investigations.

Not only are the Scorpions regarded as one of South Africa’s elite crime fighting units and central to the fight against corruption but essentially, for this debate, they are leading the charge on the investigation into the arms deal.

Finally, the decision to axe Vusi Pikoli as the head of the National Prosecuting Authority despite the findings of the Ginwala Enquiry. Pikoli is of course the NDPP who was courageous enough to pursue the arrest of the national police commissioner and the ANC president in the fight against corruption. While both may be innocent that was the focus of Pikoli in arresting them.

Which leaves us with the following: the ANC president telling the world that corruption remains a worrying factor which has to be rooted out while in deeds the government has ignored judicial commissions and pleas from local leaders in order to ignore the arms deal, disband the leading unit in the fight against corruption and sacked the head of the NDPP who was instrumental in tackling politicians and officials at the very highest
levels …

Maybe I’m just confused.

Cartoon: Zuma against Corruption