EFF CALLS ON JACOB ZUMA AND DUD MYENI TO REPORT CRIMINALS WHO ARE LOOTING PUBLIC FUNDS OR FACE CHARGES THEMSELVES OF BEING AWAR OF CRIME AND NOT REPORTING IT

20 November, 2016

The EFF calls on Jacob Zuma and Dudu Myeni to report corruption and its perpetrators with immediate effect or face charges of being aware of corruption and not reporting it themselves. Addressing an ANC cadres forum in Pietermaritzburg on Friday night, Zuma said "those are the thieves and I know they are stealing. I'm just watching them. I know them" referring to people he says are investigating him. A few days before, on Wednesday, addressing parliament portfolio committee of public enterprises Dudu Myeni, chairperson of the SAA board, also said she knew or had knowledge of who was corrupt and stealing public funds. 

Our law is very clear that if you are aware of crime you must report it, including corruption. Thus, Jacob Zuma and Dudu Myeni must immediately report the persons who are stealing public funds. Otherwise, the EFF will lay charges against them for knowing of crime and not reporting it. Being at the helm of important institutions they should know the urgency of protecting public funds, securing the rule of law and the public purse.

Zuma in particular, who faces hundreds of allegations of corruption, must make sure to come out as soon as possible or suffer another charge of knowing about crime and not reporting it. This will unnecessarily increase his woes; he can therefore simply avoid an additional charge by reporting those persons to the police and submit any evidence or information that will help lead to their conviction.

The extant of damage in public institutions caused by corruption has reached untenable levels and this is caused by those, like Zuma and Myeni, who keep silent at the face of corruption. Their silence is complicity of their highest order taken their status in our society. Above all, their proud public pronouncement of knowledge of criminality, yet not reporting it, further perpetuates distrust in our institutions of law and order. How can ordinary South Africans develop confidence in reporting crimes when a head of state publicly confesses to know of crimes and does not report them? This makes a culture out of not reporting crimes and in turn, promotes criminality. To combat this, Zuma and Myeni must immediately report to the police or face charges themselves for not reporting crimes of corruption they are aware of.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, 20 November 2016