Pretoria – Axed Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas on Friday said that state capture is a national issue all South Africans need to take a stand against.
South Africa is at a crossroads which should not be taken lightly, said Jonas.
He was speaking at a briefing at Treasury following his axing as part of a Cabinet reshuffle in the early hours of Friday morning. Jonas and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will be replaced by Sfiso Buthelezi and Malusi Gigaba, respectively.
Jonas spoke about state capture and how it is up to South Africans to take a stand against it.
“When things look ugly and bad, institutions are weakened and development suffers almost permanently in some countries.” He added that certain events and patterns over the years indicate that “particular interests” are being protected.
The State of Capture report by former public protector Thuli Madonsela consolidates a picture of state institutions which are increasingly becoming vulnerable, he added.