CAPE TOWN- The National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has on Thursday called on the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation(Hawks) to immediately investigate international consultancies including KPMG, McKinsey and SAP for their role in state capture and links to the Gupta family.
According to the Union, all these consultancies have admitted to making “mistakes” and offered apologies for their roles in the graft scandal that has recently been uncovered.
“As Nehawu, we are convinced that their apologies and admission of guilt are not genuine. If uncovered the status quo would have remained and the looting would have continued to unabated,” said the Union. “Our view is that the apologies are meant to salvage their reputation and stop the haemorrhaging of clients.”
Nehawu added that these latest revelations continue to unravel the severity of state capture, collusion, and corruption currently taking place in the country. The widespread corruption that has been taking place in the country has robbed millions of jobs and left many poor communities without basic services. “The looting spree has gone on unrestricted for long and it is about time that trade unions, civil society, and religious leaders take a stand against the wasting of our taxes and looting of state coffers,” said Nehawu.
“We call on the Hawks to institute thorough investigations against these international consultancies who have already admitted wrongdoing. The time of leniency and inaction must come to an end and those found to be in transgression of law should face punitive measures. These international consultancies have been for some time responsible for providing Neoliberal proposals in their consultancy work and this has resulted in the stagnation of the growth of our economy,” added the Union.
The Union further said that it held a strong view that the Hawks do not have to wait for President Jacob Zuma to start investigations against the Gupta family.
The investigation into the controversial family and their role in state capture is long overdue and must start immediately without any hindrances.
“We demand to know how much money has been moved into their tax heaven in Dubai. We are aware that the Guptas are currently in the process of unwinding their interest in South Africa and move their money out of the country. As Nehawu, we want the Hawks to investigate as to how the money is moved out of the country. We call on our government to cut ties with shady and controversial companies like KPMG. South Africans need a government that promotes both transparency and accountability,” concluded the Union.