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UASA takes note of Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s reaction to the 358 recommendations, 95 of which require Constitutional changes, made by Judge Raymond Zondo of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.

While Judge Zondo’s recommendations are directed to various state institutions and the public, UASA is sceptical about establishing independent and anti-corruption boards. Setting up boards, panels and commissions is the government’s go-to manoeuvre when urgent action is required.

We have seen such manoeuvring before, but hardly tangible results. Yet here we go once more. A commission of inquiry into PRASA is considered. A dedicated corruption commission to respond to state capture will be out for public comment. Independent panels will be appointed to recommend members for the dedicated corruption commission. A body for public procurement officials is in the pipeline. A process for appointing boards of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that is not open to manipulation has been suggested. The need for lifestyle audits was stressed.

Will all this lead to improved compliance, transparency, and accountability in the appointment of SOE board members? Only time will tell.

The President hit the nail on the head when he said South Africans expect action. We, the people, have made that clear countless times. Ramaphosa’s response to the State Capture Report has been submitted to Parliament, and lawmakers will start deliberating and debating a way forward.

UASA believes that instead of more commissions and panels, we need our law enforcement departments to do their work. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Hawks, SIU – the entire security cluster, must make work of investigating and prosecuting the individuals involved in state capture, corruption, fraud, mismanagement of public funds and all other shenanigans that are destroying our country.

We want to see behind bars the selfish leaders who don’t care about the well-being of workers but destroyed our economy instead. The distress Denel employees have had to face at the hands of their employer over the past two years should not befall any worker in South Africa. Delivering copies of the State Capture Report to Denel, Eskom, PRASA, SAA, SABC, SAPS, Transnet, and other entities for consideration and action is another start and will hopefully lead to diminished malpractice in these organisations.

We can forget about a well-functioning South Africa without immediate, dedicated, measured decisive action. Recommendations on establishing new state institutions can be made and implemented ad nauseam. Without sufficient government funding and officials who serve ethically, with integrity, transparency, and in compliance with the law, we have nothing. Thus, we encourage Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to ensure that the institutions set up to tackle the recommendations have sufficient funds to complete their tasks and ensure justice prevails.

UASA urges government to finalise and submit the Public Procurement Bill that addresses the recommendations made by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture in March 2023. South Africa needs to get its affairs in order.

Issued by UASA Spokesperson Abigail Moyo