INLSA

Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe during the launch of Corruption Watch in Johannesburg. The writer says the Protection of State Information Bill, if passed unamended, will negate the efforts of the watchdog. Picture: Leon Nicholas

Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe recently did SA and all its citizens a huge favour. Speaking at the launch of Corruption Watch, an “autonomous watchdog” that will enable “victims of graft and ordinary citizens” to lodge complaints that will be expeditiously attended to by independent professionals, he was quoted as saying that “fighting corruption is as important as fighting apartheid”.

And we all know that the ANC’s very reason for existence and its most important and urgent battle was that against apartheid and race discrimination.

He went on to say: “Corruption is a criminal act that steals the fruit of our Struggle and we must declare it an enemy as apartheid was.”

Radebe also said the media had to be applauded for consistently exposing government corruption, and a last quote: “We often do not appreciate the role of media as a watchdog.

“We want the media to continue in its efforts to expose corrupt individuals.”

But there is a contradiction, and it lies in the fact that the passage, unamended, of the Protection of State Information Bill will act in the opposite direction and will emasculate the currently free media in its role as a corruption watchdog.

It will negate the efforts of the newly formed Corruption Watch even before it starts its work.

And Radebe, a highly intelligent member of the executive, knows this.

After all, the ANC government, except for its anti-corruption rhetoric, has not exactly covered itself in glory. Think of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, sacked minister Sicelo Shiceka, convicted former police commissioner Jackie Selebi, suspended national police boss Bheki Cele, Chippy Shaik, brother of Schabir, and the late minister Joe Modise.

And what about the leader of the ANC kindergarten, Julius Malema, presently under investigation?

Finally, will someone please explain how Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele could possibly have been ignorant of his wife’s activities in the face of the fact that she has been convicted of being an international drug dealer?

What Radebe has done is to give a massive and obvious hint to the National Council of Provinces – where the bill is now under scrutiny – that the time is ripe to make good on the constitutional commitments made by the ANC to ensure that the media can, without fear of imprisonment, without blockage by “classification” of relevant information, investigate corrupt activities.

Radebe is a senior minister and must surely speak for the ANC.

Unfortunately the relevant National Assembly Committee has failed abysmally in its oversight task.

Under the ANC-led majority, chaired by MP Luwellyn Landers, it has forfeited the right to label itself a committee of oversight.

It has become no more than the dictated voice of the ANC executive.

This is all a question of party loyalty versus national interest. Stick to party loyalty and members can expect upward mobility.

Act rather in terms of morality and public interest, then political obscurity awaits.

Ask Barbara Hogan, Geoff Doidge, Bantu Holomisa, Dr Gavin Woods, Andrew Feinstein and Nozizwe Routledge, to name but a few who have opted for integrity and morally correct action rather than toeing the often grubby party line.

The matter now depends on critical corrective amendments to the Secrecy Bill being passed by the National Council of Provinces committee.

I pray that it does its moral duty and gives true meaning to the words of Radebe, that “fighting corruption is as important as fighting apartheid”.

l David Dalling is a former member of Parliament and parliamentary whip.