Zuma has a duty to report “those who are stealing”

President Jacob Zuma has a legal duty to report, to the law enforcement authorities, those who he knows to be engaged in criminal behaviour. President Zuma is quoted as saying “Those are the thieves and I know they are stealing. I'm just watching them. I know them”.

If President Zuma is to be believed, he is enjoined by Section 34(1) and (2) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act to report “those who are stealing” to the SAPS. For President Zuma to hold onto this information for political reasons undermines the fight against corruption and it makes him an accessory to crime.

On Tuesday, 15 November 2016, I laid charges (CAS 70/11/2016) against President Zuma in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, I will therefore ask the SAPS to widen their investigation in order to investigate those people known by the President to be stealing.

It is irresponsible and illegal for the President of the country to sit on information that relates to corruption and to not take this information to those empowered to investigate and prosecute, but it comes as no surprise as President Zuma shows little understanding of the negative impact of corruption. This is the same man who once argued that corruption was a “Western paradigm” crime where there are “no victims”.

With each passing day, President Zuma continues to prove that he is not fit to be the President of South Africa. He is compromised and has compromised the functioning of the State by undermining key state agencies and the Rule of Law.

The Democratic Alliance will continue to fight against corruption and those who engage in this most heinous of acts, which robs the people of opportunities.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane MP, Leader of the Democratic Alliance, 20 November 2016