COSATU notes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of various measures to intensify the fight against corruption
23 October 2022
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of various measures to intensify the fight against corruption. Corruption is a cancer that is eating at the heart of the state, weakening its ability to fulfill its constitutional mandates, and sinking the country deeper into the abyss.
Billions of rands that would have been used to deliver the public services to the citizens have been squandered away. The strategic SOEs like Eskom, Transnet and Metrorail have been crippled to a point where they are unable to deliver on their respective mandates. Some of the country’s municipalities have been hollowed out and they are unable to deliver services or to pay workers their salaries.
The Federation acknowledges the work being done to restore the South African Revenue Service. Their efforts have already generated an additional R60 billion in tax revenues. We are seeing promising signs of progress with a gradual increase in the number of high-profile people who are being charged and whose assets are being attached, including some convictions. The recent attachment of Markus Jooste’s assets is a positive step in this regard.
We welcome the recent establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Council. It needs to be authorized to force government to implement its recommendations if it is to have any real impact.