AgangSA Outraged at Environmentally Destructive Illegal Mining by Zuma-Gupta mining company
Johannesburg; 3 November 2013: AgangSA is outraged at the flagrant display of contempt for the law and this country's citizens by the Zuma-Gupta empire with the tacit complicity of the government.
Today's Sunday Times reports that Idwala Coal, a company linked to President Zuma's son, Duduzane, and the president's friends and benefactors, the Gupta family, has been mining illegally in Mpumalanga and destroying the environment, without the relevant government departments raising a finger.
According to the report, the rogue company's activities have destroyed part of a wetland - killing protected species - contaminated water and also diverted a public road and river without permission. All this, while the departments of mining and minerals, as well as water and environmental affairs turned a blind eye - no doubt in deference to President Zuma.
As if that was not bad enough, the company has not paid millions in salaries owed to workers, while the Zumas and Guptas continue to live large, unperturbed by the pain they have caused the unpaid workers and their struggling families.
The brazenness of this wanton destruction, coupled with the Guptas' scandalous landing of a foreign plane bringing guests to a family wedding, shows just how much President Zuma has mortgaged South Africa to the controversial, untouchable family.
AgangSA calls on the relevant authorities to act swiftly to put an end to the wanton destruction of the environment by Idwala Coal in order to enrich the Zuma and Gupta families. All government officials complicit in allowing these flagrant violations should be brought to book, including at the highest level.
Rampant corruption and the conflation of the governing party, the government and state have created a culture of impunity and confusion amongst civil servants and the public.
That's why AgangSA champions clean government that listens to the people and is accountable to the people. We can restore integrity to public life and pride to public service. We can restore the trust between citizens and their leaders and between business and government. Good governance breeds trust and trust is at the very heart of our challenge to succeed as a nation. Trust comes from demonstrating that you will do what you say and that you will live by the values that we all share.
Statement issued by Moeketsi Mosola, Political Director, AgangSA, November 3 2013
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