Chief Justice Raymond Zondo faces a wave of backlash following his recent statement that the government would still be unable to prevent another state capture, should it occur.
Zondo targets Parliament ineptitude in dealing with state capture
Zondo, who completed his extensive report on the widespread corruption within state-owned entities, emphasised that parliament’s failure to act allowed the Gupta family and their associates to succeed in their state-capture endeavours.
During a keynote address at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) colloquium, Zondo highlighted the reluctance of the majority party in parliament to establish an inquiry into the allegations.
He expressed concerns that if another group were to attempt state capture, parliament would likely be ineffective in thwarting their efforts, citing a lack of substantial changes in the system.
The commission’s report detailed numerous instances where parliament fell short in exposing state capture attempts at an early stage.
The African National Congress (ANC), known for suppressing investigations that could expose its leaders to negative political scrutiny, serves as an example.
Recently, the party used its parliamentary majority to vote against establishing an ad-hoc committee to investigate allegations of corruption made by former Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter, implicating a senior ANC politician.
‘Jacob Zuma was captured’
Zondo also drew attention to former President Jacob Zuma, asserting that he too had been “captured” during his tenure, using his powers to advance the business interests of the Gupta family.
The commission’s report outlined instances where Zuma’s decisions benefited the Guptas, such as the removal of key executives at Eskom and the dismissal of Themba Maseko, the chief executive of the Government Communication and Information System.
In response to the question of who would protect the people from future state capture attempts, Zondo presented three possibilities. The first involved electoral reforms granting citizens greater power over Members of Parliament.
The second proposed the establishment of a standing state capture and anti-corruption commission, ensuring transparency and preventing cover-ups. The third option emphasised the importance of active citizen participation, urging South Africans to safeguard against the recurrence of state capture.
At the colloquium, advocate Gary Pienaar, the senior research manager at the HSRC, discussed the implementation of recommendations from the Zondo report.
He emphasised the need for independent senior appointments to counter the influence of politically connected individuals and the importance of lifestyle audits and psychometric integrity testing in combating corruption.
However, challenges persist in implementing these recommendations, with tensions arising between the governing party and the government over key issues.
While progress has been made, such as the extension of lifestyle audits at Eskom, there remains a sense of urgency required to address financial misconduct and ensure swift disciplinary action in the public service.