Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has denounced the leaders of the African National Congress for abandoning the values of the anti-apartheid struggle and enriching themselves at the expense of the people.
The Archbishop of Cape Town has denounced the leaders of South Africa’s African National Congress for abandoning the values of the anti-apartheid struggle and enriching themselves at the expense of the people. Speaking to over 2000 people outside of Parliament in Cape Town last week, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba declared on 30 Sept 2015 “our country needs to be morally disinfected.” Last week’s rally was one of three in Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban led by anti-corruption activists protesting the collapse of public morals under the present regime. Archbishop Makgoba charged the country’s leaders had abandoned the principles they held during the anti-apartheid struggle. “Today those same leaders who showed such courage in the Old Struggle have not only abandoned the concept of courage, today they punish anyone who tries to uphold the principles of courage” of those who speak out against graft. The “price of corruption is the inequality of equality,” the archbishop said, explaining: “while we and our leaders live under the delusion that we are promoting equality in our society, the corruption that is spreading its tentacles across our society actually entrenches inequality, step up step.” He charged President Jacob Zuma with “creating an historic era of sadness in South Africa.” But further stated: “I’m not pointing fingers at who is doing the corrupting and who is being corrupted in South Africa today. But I do know this. It is time for the leaders, leaders of all kinds, whether in government, business, public service or civil society, to end their silence and to stand up publicly and to say ‘no’ to corruption.” While last year’s national elections saw the ANC win 62 per cent of the popular vote, keeping its hold on power, critics charge President Zuma and party leaders with fostering a climate of corruption within the state. A report by the country’s Auditor-General found that state entities wasted 1.17 billion rand in the year through March last year and incurred 33.6 billion rand in irregular expenditure. On 28 Sept 2015 Hitachi, Ltd. admitted to having made “improper payments” to ANC party leaders in order to win a contract from the state power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
