Open Letter to President Ramaphosa
I am a lowly citizen of the republic over which you so ably preside. I was elated, in fact I was relieved, when you announced some 20 months ago that you would raise your hand for the ANC presidential race. It seemed everyone in South Africa, except the curry-fed and Saxonwold-imbibing ANC insiders, wanted you to lead the party and to emerge as president before and after the 2019 elections.
To say you are our only hope is an understatement. It is impossible to see how the ANC, the only hope for blacks in this country, would have survived were it not for your courage to stand for what is right for this country.
Ever since you made the announcement, you have lived up to the majority of your promises. No one is perfect, so us ordinary people understand that you will stumble here and there.
Mr President, it is not necessary to tell you about the people who took to the streets to protest and those who complained bitterly on social media and other public platforms about Zuma-sponsored corruption.
They lamented Zuma’s failure to deliver on many of the ANC’s promises, such as job creation, fighting crime (especially corruption), quality education, sanitation and housing.
Now I believe what would please these people most, is if you were to mercilessly deal with government corruption.
Yes, we know about private sector and white monopoly capital corruption, but for now, that can wait.
The state cannot afford to have one more cent stolen, Mr President!
You have raised VAT already to cover the cost of corruption. What is next income tax?
You recently cut short your overseas trip to attend to a violent protest in Mahikeng, North West. What a refreshing approach.
The reason people took to the streets in a violent way is influenced by many factors, but I believe the biggest contribution is fatigue with corrupt leaders. They are continuing to steal under your leadership, tainting the government you lead.
Perhaps it was a lot easier to remove the majority of the ministers who were politically compromised, but you have preferred to ask officials at state entities alleged to have been involved in corruption, and exposed in the media, to step down.
It was worrisome that instead of Arthur Fraser arrested for stealing money, he is transferred to another government department.
Why should they not be disciplined or arrested if they have committed crimes?
By not holding these people accountable, are we trying to hide something which may be revealed during the disciplinary process, Mr President? The sense one gets is that you choose to deal with the most obvious cases in the public domain in a manner where it appears you had no choice but to act. There is a lot of time to be taken to deal with corrupt elements at municipalities and in provincial and national departments.
Some might believe that corruption committed outside the parameters of the state capture inquiry will be swept under the carpet in the interest of keeping the warring ANC factions united.
I am afraid to say, Mr President, that such actions may lead to some people doubting your seriousness about dealing with corruption, renewing the ANC and being intolerant of corruption.
By now, we are supposed to have a permanent head of the Hawks. By now, the new national commissioner of the police should have been given clear instructions to remove corrupt elements in senior government positions.
All we have heard so far from the new Minister of Police is that he is going to appoint a security company to guard police stations.
This is a shame. Police are better trained than security guards. Well, they are supposed to be. What message are we sending when we appoint guards with knobkieries to watch over them?
But I digress. You see, Mr President, the only way to truly get the electorate to see that the ANC is self-correcting and is going in a new direction is by exposing all Zuma’s dirty linen and dealing ruthlessly with those who assisted him.
People like Matshela Koko should not be asked to resign. They should be put behind bars along with the likes of Lucky Montana, Brian Molefe, Duduzane Zuma, Edward Zuma, North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo and ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and their children.
In the not too distant future, Zuma should appear in a different court on different corruption charges. Please don’t just deal with what’s on the surface. Dig deep to deal with the rot.
I don’t understand why the Hawks are running helter-skelter, chasing Guptas about one case of the Free State diary farm.
Surely there are more? Surely there many enablers and collaborators?
I understand that you must unite the country again and have everyone focused on the “new dawn”.
Yes, I understand that the general elections are around the corner and that you must campaign for re-election. Zuma inflicted so much misery on the back of unfulfilled promises and widespread corruption.
How much more must be stolen? How many more public properties must be torched during these violent protests? How many more schools must be disrupted because of protests? How many more must be shot with rubber bullets? For how long must we continue to suffer because of Zuma’s corruption?
Dear Mr President, the time to act decisively against corruption is now!
Lebo Keswa is a businesswoman.
The Sunday Independent