ActionSA ‘Top 10 Most Wanted Prosecutions’ when we enter government

3 April 2024 

Good morning,

I cannot think of a better place to announce our list of Top 10 Most Wanted Prosecutions, and the action we intend taking, to ensure that those culpable are brought to book than the "Saxonwold Shebeen".

It is the perfect setting to reveal those we intend holding accountable for their nefarious actions.

Regrettably, it was incredibly difficult to only draw up 10 names, not because they are so few, but sadly because we are spoiled for choice in the corruption department and there is a line-up of luminaries who should have made the cut in the worst way.

Let's start with the definition of corruption.

Chapter 2 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act defines corruption as "any person who gives or accepts or offers to and accepts any gratification amounting to an unauthorised or improper inducement to act, or not to act, in a particular manner, is guilty of an offence.”

A rather broad definition.

And when you look at that and compare it to what our top 10 have been getting up to it is clear that so much more than corruption is at play here.

We want these people investigated and we want to remove the investigations from the moribund magistrate’s court system, and ensure that these prosecutions are dealt with by specialised courts formed for this purpose, which report directly to a Chapter 9 Institution.

But, as ActionSA President Herman Mashaba mentioned in his remarks, an ActionSA government would never interfere in public prosecutions.

We, however, believe that politics have shielded these individuals from accountability.

How is it possible that after mounting evidence, and two years after the final state capture report was tabled, not a single successful state capture conviction has taken place?

Nor have any of the individuals with adverse findings against them sought to take the report on review, as has been confirmed by the Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

We simply cannot live in a country that allows this level of immunity any longer!

We need the political will to take action, capacitate the NPA and ensure that it can fulfil its mandate without fear of repercussion.

The list of Top 10 ‘Most Wanted’ Prosecutions we are therefore presenting today is a list of high-profile individuals where clear evidence exists for them to be brought to book.

These are individuals who are clearly ready to be prosecuted, but instead we have seen delay after delay, excuse after excuse.

These are individuals who clearly deserve to be investigated and held accountable, but for political reasons, they are being protected.

So without further delay, let me present ActionSA’s list of ‘Top 10 Most Wanted Prosecutions’.

The list is presented in alphabetical order, and is therefore not ranked.

Ace Magashule. Mr Teflon who uses his sons to foil allegations that he is involved in;

Corruption in the R255 million asbestos tender

Corruption in the R280 million Vrede Dairy Project

Contravention of the Public Finance Management Act

Fraud, corruption, and money-laundering

Edwin Sodi, not a politician but well deserving of inclusion. Mr. Sodi has become synonymous with a new capital elite that is siphoning money from government contracts and channels it through to the governing ANC in the form of “donations”, all the while delivering sub-par work which has contributed to incomplete crucial maintenance of critical waste water infrastructure such as Rooiwal WasteWater Treatment Plant.

Mr Sodi warrants inclusion because of the allegations surrounding

Corruption in the R255 million asbestos tender

Corruption in the R290 million Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant tender

Contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Fraud, corruption, and money-laundering

Floyd Shivambu. Those who flaunt it and have certainly not worked for the money they have amassed, must be investigated and charged for the part he played in 

Corruption in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal

R3,6 million in VBS loot traced to Shivambu’s bank account.

Corruption and money laundering

It is for this reason that an ActionSA-led government would institute an SIU investigation into the VBS scandal to unearth the corruption which has taken place, to further solidify the findings of the South African Reserve Bank’s The Great Bank Heist commissioned by Adv. Terry Motau.

Gwede Mantashe. Back on the ANC lists for parliament, notwithstanding the fact that the State Capture Commission Report found he unduly benefited from the BOSASA grand scale corruption;

Accepting home renovations and security upgrades from Bosasa.

Contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act

Bribery and Corruption

Julius Malema.  He who uses anything and anyone to deflect and draw attention away from the luxury lifestyle he leads without having any means of proving that it was honestly earned. We want to see him being investigated for;

Corruption in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal

Stole millions of Rands through the VBS scheme

Public Protector Report titled, “On the Point of Tenders”, for possible violations of our tax laws

Corruption, fraud, and money laundering.

These allegations would also be referred to the SIU under an ActionSA-led government.

Jacob Zuma. Is he a fraud or has he committed fraud? Our Chief State Capture Architect who conspired with the Guptas to plunder the State’s resources while deliberately and intentionally aided and abetted the capture of our strategic SOE’s, such as SARS, SAA, Transnet, Eskom to name a few.

His disregard for the rule of law is manifest in his insistence to again attempt to stand for office, knowing he may not, and not stopping his party from threatening violence if they do not get their way.

Malusi Gigaba. A captured Minister back on the ANC lists, notwithstanding the allegations that he;

Accepted cash payments from the Guptas

Appointed the Gupta family to strategic positions at state-owned companies 

Conspired to capture Transnet Possible money laundering and racketeering

Nomvula " Mama Action"  Mokonyane. First Deputy Secretary of the ANC, first female Premier of Gauteng, served as Minister for Water and Sanitation, Environmental Affairs and Communications. She has been accused of;

Having accepted bribes from Bosasa

Seeking to influence the contracting of suppliers for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project

Violation of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act

Breach of constitutional and ethical responsibilities

Zandile Gumede, former Mayor of eThekwini, currently under a massive cloud with allegations of hit squads and money laundering abounding. The allegations include

Defrauded the eThekwini Municipality

Committed a R320 million tender fraud concerning the Durban Solid Waste tender

Contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act

Contravention of the Municipal Systems Act

Corruption, fraud, money laundering, and racketeering

Although Ms. Gumede has been charged, we believe the wheels of justice are moving too slowly and are being deliberately sabotaged.

Zweli Mkhize, yet another candidate in the ANC lists implicated in;

Corruption in the Digital Vibes tender

R9 million traced to Mkhize’s son and his family

The fraudulent contract cost the Department of Health R150 million during the Covid-19 pandemic 

So that, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason we are here today. To highlight the damage that has been caused to our country over the last 30 years and, unless we do take action, the next 30 will be worse.

Let’s uphold the rule of law, let's investigate those who deserve investigation and ensure those who have wronged our beloved South Africa and her people, are pursued to the fullest extent of the law.

Let's get the specialised courts up and running and hold those responsible for corruption to account.

Let's weed out the rot.

Let's fix South Africa on 29 May

Issued by Herman Mashaba, President, ActionSA, 3 April 2024