Govt fails to respond to corruption coalition

Cape Town – The government has failed to respond to a memorandum of demands submitted by the Unite Against Corruption (UAC) coalition after its nationwide marches in September and October.

During the marches on September 30 and October 14, the coalition of more than 300 trade unions, civil society and faith groups gave government and business two months to respond to its demands.

Former general secretary of Cosatu, Zwelinzima Vavi, said the coalition received “no calls, no meetings, nothing”.

“There is no evidence that we are moving in the right direction,” Vavi said.

He said leaders could expect to be held accountable to specific targets in 2016.

“Agency is moving back to ordinary people, who are refusing to pay bribes, but demand services instead,” Vavi said.

Despite a personal commitment to respond by Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, nothing was forthcoming.

Interim convenor of the Nine Plus Unions, Stephen Faulkner, said Radebe missed an opportunity to engage with one of the largest coalitions of civil society in many years, and to show its identification with the concerns of ordinary South Africans.

“He has also missed his turn to put on record what government is actually prepared to do about corruption – especially in the light of the wastefulness highlighted in the Auditor General's latest report,” he said.

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry submitted a 1-page reply to the coalition on October 19.

Chamber chairperson Janine Myburgh called corruption a “cancer in our society (that) aggravates the unemployment situation”.

She said allegations that business was equally involved in corruption, were “disturbing”. The letter then called for transparency, but without committing to specifics.

A recent global corruption survey published by Transparency International found that 83% of South Africans believed corruption was increasing, while 79% of South Africans felt government was performing poorly in its efforts to combat corruption.

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