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Inkatha Freedom Party chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo
Cape Town - Warning that corruption was on the verge of making South Africa dysfunctional, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi told President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday that he was shying away from tackling it.
“Corruption is the bane of our country,” he said during debate in the National Assembly on last week's State of the Nation address.
Buthelezi described corruption as a fundamental threat to South Africa's constitutional democracy.
“Yet, sir, you shy away from this issue.”
He said a measure of Zuma's leadership could be taken less by what the president had said than by what he had not said.
“How can we embrace hope when our leadership refuses to acknowledge the many problems confronting our country, or the causes that lie at their root? Year after year, the State of the Nation address shifts, without ever addressing previous failures.”
Buthelezi said it was an “unspoken fact” that corruption had resulted in the axing of two ministers - Sicelo Shiceka and Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde.
“The national police commissioner, Mr Bheki Cele, is still suspended pending an investigation into corruption.
“The Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, Ms Peggy Nkonyeni, and MEC Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu are facing corruption charges in court,” he said.
Two of the nine provinces had “all but collapsed” and the administration of the state was “in shambles”.
“Limpopo has been rendered bankrupt through corrupt activities and five of its departments have been taken over by national government.”
“In the Eastern Cape, the education system has completely collapsed due to maladministration and corruption, forcing national government to intervene.”
In Gauteng, the provincial government had sought help from the National Treasury for its health department, which was on the verge of collapse.
The Free State had sought help after discovering financial mismanagement and non-compliance in supply chain processes in its police roads and transport department.
“How, Mr President, do we explain the contamination of public service and commercial interests? It is fatal and yet pursued relentlessly from the lowest to the highest levels of government.
“Too many, and I dare say the overwhelming majority, are trying to make money on account of holding public office, being in politics or exercising public power.”
Last year, Special Investigating Unit head Willie Hofmeyr told MPs that 20 percent of South Africa's procurement budget was lost to corruption each year.
“According to Transparency International's 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index, South Africa is perceived to be becoming more corrupt with each passing year.”
This perception was rooted in reality.
“On a scale of 0 (being highly corrupt) to 10 (being very clean), we have fallen from a ranking of 5.1 in 2007, to 4.1 in 2011.
“The unspoken fact is that we are on the verge of joining the ranks of dysfunctional states, as the effects of corruption debilitate all spheres of life,” Buthelezi said.
The IFP leader, who turns 84 this year, also criticised Zuma for his support, last Thursday, of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu).
“Mr President, you praise the trade unions, and even Sadtu, as if they should be thanked for doing less than the full measure of their destructive capabilities.
“Praising the South African Democratic Teachers' Union for its diligent teachers was a step too far in placating the unions.”
The ANC-aligned union continued to act like an organisation “hell-bent on destroying the future of our children”, and should be rebuked, not praised, for its actions, he said, to cries of support from opposition benches.
“Instead of acting like responsible educators, some members of Sadtu have, on numerous occasions, proven themselves irresponsible, unprofessional and unfit to educate South Africa's learners.”
Buthelezi also suggested that the ruling party was too close to the country's four major banks.
“Another major policy mistake is maintaining the four retail bank policy and tolerating the collusion and other restraints of trade openly practised by our banks.”
A lack of “real competition” meant they were not forced to take risks they did not want to take, forcing all the “risky business” onto the Industrial Development Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
“It would seem as if your government, Mr President, has a greater commitment to serving the banks than the people we represent.”
On the economy, Buthelezi said Zuma had not explained how two sectors that should be booming as a result of high international demand - agriculture and mining - were “in reverse due to government's many policy failures”.
Another unspoken fact was that the latest Global Competitiveness Rankings of the World Economic Forum highlighted how corruption, wasteful expenditure and government red-tape was increasingly hindering business development, SMMEs and investment in South Africa.
Buthelezi said there was a “disconnect” between the government and the reality of everyday life in South Africa.
He told Zuma his address had lacked accountability.
“It lacked accountability on the crisis in health, the crisis of education and the crisis of corruption.
“What you have said looks good on paper, but what you have not said can prevent the fulfilment of the best-laid plans.” - Sapa
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Mampe, wrote
You couldn't have said it better babu Shenge. Only if the authorities in the ruling party (ANC) were seeing things though your lence. Which is highly impossible because they are corrupt as ever themselves. South African economy will turn out like Zimbabwe because 'abantu bawogombela kwesabo', they do not care about other people in society. ANC is corrupt, that needs to be addressed, infact, I don't even think that could be the solution, the damage is getting worse everyday. Yah!talk about "democracy" without "liberation". Where is South Africa heading?
Anonymous, wrote
Yes Buthelezi is right - no comment on crime and corruption just a load of nonsense. Empty promises of prosective corrupt deals and the whole country must be pleased!! You can surely not fool all the people all the time!
chad, wrote
If the ANC tackle corruption they will have to tackle themselves, If we say south africa has a corruption problem then we say that the ANC is corrupt, because if you look at the facts, all the leaders those that are high up in the ANC are billionaires, the nephews as well.... So Mr Buthelezi tackle the entire ANC which means there would be war - The fear of the ANC coming to power has materialized & now i understand why people in this land white & black were concerned about this party, it has taken 20 years for the ugly head of this monster to show but sure enough as those people said it would show it has shown. The ANC are not a government they are a Regime, the same type found in burma, Zimbabwe, Libya, Egypt etc etc
@ phodo, wrote
I agree with you 100% that African is not the only corrupt continent but you are wrong that corruption is why America is in national debt, there is A LOT more to it than simple banking loans, there is deep rooted corruption behind the USA govt. Not many people know becasue the date was 09102001 a day before the WTC attacks that the USA announced that $2.3 trillion was unaccounted for in the pentagon. A staggering amount of money! But America is still able to provide health, schooling etc to its people becasue that is the priority where in Africa we collapse everything and millions dide becasue of the greed and corrupt ways of our leaders. There is corruption everywhere but the costs to the people are not always the same!
Psy, wrote
but yet the sheep continue to vote for more of the same, stop living in the past and start looking towards the future ! a goverment that cant govern needs to be removed
Gman, wrote
I really just feel so good and warm that other world leaders are able to see the rot that is destroying SA and a black leader so it cant be claimed as racism. It is just great to know that what we feel and think of citizens in SA is not totally falling on deaf ears. I hope the international community gets more involved and roots out those who seek to detroy us. The criminal organisation called the ANC with its thug leaders.
JennyN, wrote
Such a shame that the poor, unemployed, uneducated rural anc supporters are mostly unaware of the way they are being ripped off. They will remain poor and uneducated and the anc will continue to plunder the state coffers unabated. Buthelezi said what we all know. Zuma has the backbone of a slug, and is far too comfortable in his well-feathered nest to consider for a moment that he might be able to stop the rot if he just stood up and did his job. Who can possibly take a man seriously when he has a busload of women and kids - all paid for by us, the taxpayer. Well said Buthelezi. No doubt, your very true words will disappear like smoke in the wind and the anc will be voted into power again and again. We are so screwed.
Anonymous, wrote
democrat, wrote
phodo, wrote
phod, wrote
shaggy says that SA is going the route of all arican countries meanig corrupt.Well after 30yrs working in africa i would advise him to go and work in Europe nowand America now.without applauding corruption i just want to remind him that Italy is the capital of corruption and if you believe that the near collapse of US economy was because of bank loans its beause you spend most of your time in africa seeking the negatives. Yes there are corrupt regimes in africa and the ANC is becoming worse but to generalise africa as if corrupton is not worldwide is being naive
Cedric the Crow, wrote
JA OF COURSE WHAT DID YOU THINK UP UNTILL THEY RULE THEIR WILL BE CORRUPTION. NO WHERE IN AFRICA HAS THERE BEEN PEACE AND DEMOCRACY WHERE THEY RULE.
seaoriginal, wrote
Well said atleast you got the bulls to tell that JZ facts pity the fucken Corrupt Anc will still wins the votes wish i got the remedy to get rid of them all its annoying how we constantly read the news and find how corrupt their officials are Please Desmond Tutu as promised please pray for the downfall of this idiots it makes sick.Ta
Anonymous, wrote
The stench of corruption cannot be ignored. It is wafting in the air like a burst sewerage pipe. Those who ignore it will get very sick and then vote for the ANC.
naked eyes, wrote
@ANC Cadre: Plz stop demonstrating the stupidness that has taken over the ANC when we speak about "his day in court" we mean his trial not his political love of mob psychology which you engaged in at PMB and JHB. Tell the zoooo to go to court and defend his hideous crimes before a judge rather than hiding behind stupid technicalities. He will soon join Jackie Selebi.Now this is about uShenge and his political brilliance. You cannot compare this seasoned politician to this MK veteran the zooooo. Its like comparing a VW beetle to a BMW. Zoooma will never survive a debate with Ntwana
ANC Cadre, wrote
kurt, wrote 08:51am on 15 February 2012 Why should Zuma fight corruption. He never had his day in court. Tells you a BIG story doesnt it. Report this ______________________________________________________ I really did not expect people who came to live in SA after the 2010 Fifa world cup to start putting their opinions on matters of this beautiful country. Where were you when we were supporting Zuma in Johannesburg high court and Maritzburg high court?
The Lastword, wrote
“What you have said looks good on paper, but what you have not said can prevent the fulfilment of the best-laid plans.” Absolutely correct Mr. Buthelezi.
Piet, wrote
carol , wrote
oh let me not start on about the education department... we will be here all day!!!!! The people that run the ed dept are a bunch of people who sit around all day picking their noses and do NOTHING!!!!!!!
Anonymous, wrote
Well said Mr Buthelezi! Leaders like you make a huge difference and give South Africans hope.
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