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Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Photo: Jacques Naude
Endemic corruption is turning politics into a selfish and, at times, murderous pursuit of power for the sake of wealth at the expense of the poor, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has warned.
In a speech prepared for delivery during a march against corruption, organised by Cosatu in Limpopo on Tuesday, the union federation leader pulled no punches in warning that the toxic mix of money and politics was creating a situation in which “no one will be able to do business with the state without greasing the hands of corrupt gatekeepers who demand bribes”.
Unless they were stopped, he warned, these gatekeepers would gorge themselves on much of the formal economy.
“(Political) factions these days are formed not around ideologies or political views, but for access to government power that brings its leaders closer to state (contracts).
“Honest and talented individuals who cannot play this dirty game… get sidelined and fall by the wayside as slate politics… imposes the worst, most inefficient and corrupt individuals on us.
“The mistake we keep on making over and over again in our politics of divisions is to keep replacing a corrupt faction with another equally corrupt faction who, as soon as they occupy office, embrace the ‘it is our turn to eat’ mantra.”
While these comments appeared to be directed at the ANC and its leaders, the union man was quick to absolve the ANC of responsibility for this state of affairs and emphasised that “this is not a march against the ANC”.
“The ANC is everywhere and we are the ANC. The ANC is absolutely opposed to corruption and fighting corruption is one of the government’s five priorities.
“The ANC is not equal to tenderpreneurs – we are here to defeat the agenda of tenderpreneurs and to strengthen the ANC’s hand in a battle against selfishness and greed.”
Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale, an ally of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, who is appealing against his five-year suspension by the ANC, is standing for re-election as the party’s provincial chairman this weekend.
Much of his provincial government was placed under administration last week in an attempt to rescue it from bankruptcy.
Limpopo may also play a key role at the ANC’s elective conference in Mangaung next year.
Vavi moved to pre-empt suggestions that the Cosatu-led march in Limpopo was part and parcel of the factionalism against which he was speaking. “This march has nothing to do with the forthcoming ANC provincial conference taking place this coming weekend,” he emphasised. Vavi then turned his attention to what he believed to be the real cause of corruption – capitalism.
“Capitalism breeds corruption because… it is corrupt, in that it allows the surplus value to be appropriated by a tiny class of property owners while the real producers of wealth earn a pittance,” he said.
This had led to a situation in which a small minority enjoyed world-class health care, while the majority had to contend with overcrowded, understaffed and under-resourced hospitals “where they die en masse from preventable diseases”.
“Some of our children learn in dehumanising conditions: schools without toilets; no fencing; no libraries; mud schools; no laboratories; no windows; and overcrowded classrooms,” he added.
It was capitalism and its associated philosophies of “dog eat dog” and “me first”, Vavi said, which had “engulfed” ANC cadres and which “threaten the finest traditions of our liberation movement – selflessness, honesty and integrity”. - Political Bureau
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COSATU supports corruption, wrote
Vavi, by being part of this unholy tripartite alliance, you and your members support the ANC's corruption. Talk is cheap.
Anonymous, wrote
The problem is not ideology, the problem is power. There will always be an elite who hold the purse strings regardless of your political ideology. The problem in SA is we have people who want to be communists but live like capitalists.
Gunter, wrote
aNON you are wrong on both counts; why? read: NONE DARE CALL IT CONSPIRACY by historian Gary Allen! This was written in 1972
jandr0, wrote
“Capitalism breeds corruption because… it is corrupt, in that it allows the surplus value to be appropriated by a tiny class of property owners while the real producers of wealth earn a pittance,” he said. That is blatantly incorrect, as even an introductory course in logic and reasoning will show. Just for a start: the "real producers of wealth" is already a statement that can not be supported by facts. Vavi, I respect your stance against corruption, but your should feel ashamed that your populist assertions highlight your lack of understanding of even the most basic of economic principles.
Russell Travers, wrote
Mr Vavi always manages to impress me with his succinct and at times compelling views. The problem though with his logic is that it is applied to and misdirected against the very forces that will eventually liberate him and the masses from the oppression of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the endemic corrupting failure that the anc has become. To be a Marxist today is deluded and ludicrous in the extreme. In fact to assert that the anc is against corruption is so shortsighted and deceitful that it is hilarious. One day the time will come when the anc and their blundering unreformed cronies will be turfed out of office - with their heads held high and feet held higher!
Magaya'yidlele, wrote
aNON, wrote
the anc is corrupt to the core, why do people still vote them into power? it is no other political party carrying out these corrupt ways, tenderpreneurism, nepotism...it is the anc and their cadres doing so. Vavi is entirely misguided to blame capitalism for anc greed (so prevalent in africa) for that is only an economy system, communism has displayed worse tendencies by taking away democracy from the people. it is indeed very strange how anc supporters bleat on about their 'democracy', economic freedom, etc but under communism there is no democracy or economic freedom in your time, there are no trade unions, you have no future - reason why russia and eastern europe collapsed under the weight of communism. china is probably the worst offender of human rights, 'poorest of the poor' - you have no say, vavi - you have no say, living wage - what? you do as you are told otherwise you are EXECUTED. clearly the anc cadre is singularly at fault and the blame rests on his or her shoulders for the corrupt ways in this country - nobody else or no system is to blame for there lack of morals and criminal intent...it is the anc individual that must take responsibility, no other.
Anonymous, wrote
Limpompo is corruct and everybody is corrupt in that Province. I wonder why they must keep coming to our Provinces with their corrupt mandate from Theit Premier Mathale?
Loudly Safrican, wrote
Graft, dishonest and corruption starts with Trade Unions and splinter parties using other parties to front for them How about it, Cde Zweli?
Ellie , wrote
Shu'aib, wrote
Very well said Mr Vavi. My faith has been restored to some degree that there are someone out there who can still fight for the poor and the dis-enfranchised
@Mams, wrote
Vavi you still remain a hero now. Let your new job IDC not corrupt you. Bolele mohlomphegi
Anonymous, wrote
...and guess what, the rot starts from the top down. With the "WRONG" leaders in place corruption and the re-appointment of corrupt individuals to replace those exposed will continue to happen. This is the anc.....
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