AFRICA: Citizens urged to march over corruption

Johannesburg - Civil society organisations are hoping to bring out 100 000 South Africans onto the streets on August 19 for an anti-corruption march to Parliament and the Union Buildings. 

Twenty-nine organisations, including Section27, Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the United Front, said e-tolls and security upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home signalled unprecedented levels of denialism over corruption.

Expelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who is part of the coalition organising the march, said the country was engulfed by an epidemic of corruption.

“Private companies and individuals are corrupting the fabric of South Africa,” he said.

“It seems that corruption is now endemic in the office of the president, infects parts of the cabinet and spreads throughout the government, businesses, trade unions and NGOs. It must be stopped.” 

The organisations also plan to invite businesses and church groups to join the march.

Billions of rand of the fiscus was diverted from delivery of public services through corruption, Vavi said.

At a meeting held on Friday, organisations had highlighted issues of corruption in healthcare, education and the implementation of e-tolls.

“On all these issues there is a common thread, and that common thread is looting, without which South Africa would be in a better space than it is today,” Vavi said. 

“Why would the government be so adamant to get us to pay e-tolls, which allegedly cost R20 billion? Why would the government be so steadfast in implementing them irrespective of the political cost? The only conclusion we can draw is that somebody has a gun on the head of the government.”

Mark Heywood, of Section27, said it was time for citizens to take action instead of merely complaining about corruption.

“We want ordinary people because what we’re seeing and hearing is everybody complaining about corruption. What we are saying is do something – make corruption politically untenable,” Heywood said. 

“We particularly single out the ANC leadership. It is protecting people in its own leadership who are corrupt and thereby tarnishing the liberation movement.

“We are losing R20bn a year in the health system through corruption. And that corruption is spread equally between public and private sector. 

“A total of R20bn is more than enough to support the whole antiretroviral programme for a year for 3 million people. And that is why we are connecting corruption to death. And we’re saying some of the corrupters must be booted out.”

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said a Section 77 notice would be filed with the National Economic Development and Labour Council for the march to be protected in order for working people to take part. 

“With the eight (Cosatu) unions, we are calling on workers (to join the march). Cosatu (has been) invited to participate. All unions will be invited to participate. This is a struggle for the working class. This is a fight for jobs,” Jim said.

Vavi called on the generation that rose up against Bantu education in 1976 to join the march.

“And one of the most disgusting phenomena is, where are those men and women?

“We all know that most members of the cabinet and members of the national executive committee of the ANC are opposed to e-tolls and Nkandla,” he added.

“We are gatvol (fed-up) with the scale of corruption; but where is the guts? 

“We are now asking everybody to come forward, to make the statement that South Africans are not fools, that there are these fellows driving South Africa to a kleptocracy, to a failed state. Say this will not happen in your name. For the sake of your children, stand up. Make a statement on August 19.”

Heywood said businesses across the board would be approached to take part in the march. 

“Business must also be clear on whether it is clean or dirty. Because large parts of business are keeping quiet – business is a large part of corruption. So the meeting will include asking them to come on board with us,” he said.