By Doreen Mokgolo
- Civil group Defend our Democracy calls for arrests of officials linked to State Capture.
- Speakers warn corruption is harming South Africa with deadly consequences for poor communities.
Civil society group Defend our Democracy (DOD) called for the arrest of officials named in the State Capture report during an Anti-Corruption Week launch at Thembisa Hospital on Thursday.
Protesters carried pictures of murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran, who exposed corruption in Gauteng’s health department before she was killed near her home in August 2021.
DOD spokesman Andries Sibanyoni urged South Africans to push law enforcement to act.
“It is concerning that two years after the State Capture Zondo Report was released those implicated are still free and occupy government positions and hold parliament seats,” he said.
Former PRASA legal head Martha Ngoye spoke about corruption’s deadly cost.
“We must not forget that in a country that can afford to give all its citizens portable water, 47 died of cholera in Hammanskraal.
“If we fail in our fight against corruption, we will lose our country to gangs of thieves who use the genuine needs of the most vulnerable as stepping stones to the seed of power. South Africa cannot afford this,” she said.
Ngoye, who was fired from PRASA in 2021, exposed millions in unlawful contracts at the rail agency.
“As we launch this year’s anti-corruption week may this not become another campaign that puts a wallpaper over the gaping hole, we need to seriously take stock of where we are,” she said.
Pictured above: Defend Our Democracy movement participants.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
