Former prosecutions boss Vusi Pikoli has called on government to clamp down on corruption and fraud, the Herald Online reported on Friday.
“Corruption is anti-constitution and is extremely costly and requires strong political will,” he said at the monthly Coega Business Forum in Port Elizabeth on Thursday night.
“Look at Port Elizabeth, for instance. Walmer is burning because of housing delivery protests. There shouldn’t be such protests because it is not like housing is not budgeted for.”
Pikoli said the country's leaders were in denial.
“We sometimes hear our leaders saying ‘there is no crisis’, when there clearly is one,” he said.
“Often, we see political leaders steal public funds today, but still occupy their office tomorrow. The next day they are appointed to higher office... to do more damage to the economy.”
The leadership vacuum and lack of accountability contributed to the increasing levels of corruption, also in private companies, that were ruining South Africa.
“We need (business, political and community) leaders who stand up for what’s right, irrespective of the consequences,” he said.
Pikoli was fired as National Director of Public Prosecutions after an inquiry into his fitness to hold office.
The inquiry did not find that he was not fit to hold office, but he was fired nevertheless.
Cases he had handled included the eventual successful prosecution of the former national commissioner of police Jackie Selebi. – Sapa