Mr. Leonard Ramatlakane commenting on Public Service rules violations said that "We are astonished that the government, without any shame, is yet again re-appointing allegedly corrupt government officials. The culture of rules and regulations secondary to payrolls and prominence has showed its ugly face again, this time in the form of Siyabonga Gama".

In 2009, Siyabonga Gama, Former Transnet freight rail chief executive, was suspended when he was found guilty of breaching governance requirements relating to two contracts. He is also accused of awarding a R19-million contract to General Nyanda Security Risk Advisory Services (GNS), a security firm linked to Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda. Gama had authority to approve contracts to a maximum of R10-million.

The recovery of irregular tender proceeds remains outstanding.

In 2011, less than a year after he was kicked out, Siyabonga Gama, according to an article in the Cape Times is to return to the same parastatal from which he was fired, in an executive position, all before the end of February.

This is lunacy, another example of government's blatant disregard for the law and what is stands for. The government is shooting itself in the foot if a former executive, guilty of corruption, returns to the very same environment to possibly loot and pillage yet again. Our government has become a breeding ground for corruption and criminal behaviour.

The ruling government has forgotten why they were elected. President Zuma has stated that "South Africa will never be a Tunisia"; however, if this evident total disregard for integrity and accountability continues, there will be a day when the people will say ‘enough is enough'. Government must stop this culture of self-enrichment and practice what they preach; "a better life for all".

Mr. Gama, being found guilty, means that the process of irregular contracts must be recalled from everyone involved. The Minister must come clean on this matter. It is disturbing that Minister Barbara Hogan was fired for her firmness on corruption, yet Mr. Manyi as well as Mr. Gama, regardless of their corrupt practices has been given a second chance.

This shows that government is paying lip service to fight against corruption and corrupt practices. We hope that one day the Finance Department, in ensuring that the PFMA is adhered to, will call up the payments from those public officials who have illegally enriched themselves.

Statement issued by Leonard Ramatlakane, Congress of the People, March 3 2011

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