A few months ago I wrote about Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane suspending the former director of Gauteng’s roads and transport department, Sibusiso Buthelezi.
It’s been reported that a disciplinary process against Buthelezi was aborted mid-stream and that an agreement was reached. As a Gauteng citizen I am curious why such a settlement suddenly became necessary. Why did the government drop the disciplinary process against someone accused of conducting back-hand deals, someone who was rumoured to have many politicians in his back pocket? Is the taxpayers’ money being used to cover up and protect those that Buthelezi was going to expose should he have been dragged through a disciplinary inquiry.
At what point is this rot going to stop? How many golden handshakes must the public tolerate. Nobody is really made to face the music of their actions? Was Mokonyane blackmailed? Are we facing a situation where people including the premier may be implicated in this mess and hence the bravado of suspension to create the impression of tough action.
In Gauteng, it is well-known that one of the most obvious corruption feeding troughs is the Gautrain, which happens to fall in this department. An open and transparent disciplinary process would once and for all have exposed what has allegedly become a “corruption stock exchange” at the heart of the Gauteng government. I am certain that any attempt to make the head of department face embarrassing questions on whatever charges were proffered was sure to expose the web of deceit that underlies some of the transactions linked to the Gautrain. There is no doubt that some important people both in and out of government were going to have their dirty linen aired over this. And so to avoid such embarrassment you and I have to pay to let someone, possibly with a bag full of information on graft, go quietly into the good night.
If the new ministerial committee on corruption wants a case, this is it. Cases like this, where there is a payout instead of punishment, erode the public’s confidence in the government’s ability to deal sternly with corruption and incompetence. I will expect the committee to ask questions. I expect them to haul the premier over the coals. But I am not holding my breath. Once again I predict that the matter may not even make it onto the committee’s agenda, whose job is seen by sceptics as damage control — where deliberate, deliberations centre on how best to protect comrades whose reputations are being tainted by these untidy allegations of corruption.
Sadly our global graft ranking has not been aided by this shameless cover-up. And as for Mokonyane, just another politician after all … long on promises, slogans and threats but short on fearless action against even the most glaring of cases. I am truly saddened.
I couldn’t have said it better myself….! I think millions of Gautengers looooong for the day when accountability and responsibility are prioritised above political ‘connections’ and power hungriness! I also looooong for the day when ethics and morality start to play ‘some’, ‘any’ part in the functioning of our Gvt!!
corruption is here to stay, finish and klaar. as long as the leader of the country managed to extricate himself from corruption trial where he had a case to answer, definitely he led by example. all his comrades will follow in his footstep and get away with plundering of the state resources. it is a pity that individual business people like us wil have to foot the bill as sars is good at threatneing us, but i am still have to see what actions had been taken agaisnt the corrupt senior civil servants, or my apologies masters . oh i wish i could be a receipient of the government tender, maybe i would not feel depressed by the corruption we see everyday.
Sbu got a paltry R1.2m (1 years pay)which probably points to the fact that everything said about this bully is true! one however must note that his cohorts from Tau Pride who messed up North West roads and overspent on Sbu’s watch are still very much in government.
Are you aware that Mbhazima Shilowa, your senior at COPE, was the architect of the Gautrain? Why don’t you simply find out from him how the project has become a “corruption stock exchange” as you allege?
Right on, Sir!
Please don’t let this or any other corruption-in-government concern lie dormant. Demand answers on our behalf, directly.
And our version of “Animal Farm” continues. It is the fault of voters who vote such people onto power. The people shall vote…and the Political Party shall govern and not be accountable…and enjoy the fruits of voter manipulation, corruption and violation of trust.
JJ…one of our original languages expresses wisdom that says: “Seboba re bata sa mokwatla…sa mpa re a mpampetsa”. It has become a norm to experience such kind of political atrocities in our exclusive-to-some democracy.
thank you for speaking out. but what can we citizens do about this mountain of unworthiness we face? it disturbs me enormously. it extends to A)no accountablity for performance in jobs at cabinet or any other level B)reckless,lawless pillaging of public coffers at national and every other level. gravy train is too kind an expression..its pillaging or theft even if like-minded colleagues agree in exchange for their own theft C)bribery at every level, top to bottom. money, value,performance-quality and morality have no relevance in this millieu.grab-as-much-as -you-can is the credo. it’s time anyone who agrees with these things, of anh political outlook,joined together to fight this disgrace in our land. its the first step in the fight for justice, respect and rule of law and a love for each other. we should not see our fellows as merely the source of opportunistic gain.
Yes, how immensely sad that Nomvula
Mokonyane may be going the same way as other politicians. I hope that this is not the case, as her uncompromising stand against corruption thus far has given us all a glimmer (albeit faint) of hope. I really do want her to prove Tabane wrong.
It appears that everyone and everyone in the Gauteng government helps themselves to the “strong room”, to the extent that simple expenses such as electricity meter readings have now to be charged as a service fee to every household. And we do not even know if this is done regularly. I think the solution will be prepaid electricity to stop these parasites from charging what they want when they want without consulting their “customers”, just another example of the ANC’s arrogance.
It’s becoming an irritating trend, these so called “golden handshakes”
People in government will always be paid or “rewarded” for messing up.
Aowa JJ….you are so unfair.Nomvula inherited all these corruption issues in the premier’s office. May I remind you that your boss Mr Shilowa left his office in a such a mess hello!!!!
Nells,you are being unfair,corruption is not an inheritable practise by people who do ont assosiate with it,they eradicate it deep from the root of its begining.Now you want it tolerated because Mr Shilowa did nothing about it and sisi Nomvula must identify with it,I hope she will not for the sake of service delivery
The one that JJ is talking about Mama Nomvula did inherit it that is a fact.
@ JJ,
Its a good thing that you are crying so loud about corruption, but the interesting part is why it took you so long to be vocal about these things? Why didn’t you point these things out during your your bra’s (Shilowa & Mbeki) tenure?????. Please answer my question this time around.
@Nkosinathi,
U must have been living abroad to suggests I am only vocal now about anything at all. If Mbazima was corrupt he must face the music I am not in the business of double standards. The trouble is no one has ever pointed one corrupt thing he did.
JJ
@NELLS
Tell me lets say for arguments sake that she inheritted these things from Shilowa and company – what on earth has that got to do with this article? This article decries the fact that she arrived on the scene with guns blazing promising heaven and earth about dealing with corruption and she has so far failed to live up to her own rhetoric….this has bugger all to do with Shilowa.
FRANKLY YOURS, JJ
@ JJ,
Point taken JJ, however would you mind trying to distance (as much as you can)the involvement of Wendy Luhabe, and many other ANC politicians in the Gautrain Project during Shilowa’s tenure from corruption, jobs for pearls, etc. We will be patiently waiting for your response.
@ JJ,
I am afraid grass is begining to grow under my feet while still waiting for your response. Do you have an answer or not ??????
Yours puzzled
Nkosinathi Khanyile
Hey Nkosi I thought that the Train (* Debate Train had moved on!) to answer you blunlty I dont care who was involved – if they were corrupt and had back handed deals they must go to jail. In fact I think there must be a full forensic investigation on the Gautrain and those found guilty must be prosecuted regardless of whose wives and husbands they have bribed…..or were fronting for. Like you I dont think everything is as rosy as politicians say it was both past and present. So I dont mind the pandora’s box being opened on this one…not at all……I hope this helps. Merry 2010 to you and yours
Yours Frankly
Onkgopotse