State Capture Inquiry cost taxpayers R400 million, called ‘a joke’ by F4SD

Political party, Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) said the commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture is nothing but a money drain which should be stopped so that the resources may be spent elsewhere, according to the African News Agency (ANA).  

The commission chaired by Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo was appointed to investigate allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector and has heard testimony implicating senior government officials, former executives at state-owned enterprises and executives in some private companies. 

State Capture Commission a waste of money 

F4SD leader, Mbahare Kekana said they have had enough and that the commission should be discontinued. 

“The state capture commission has already spent R400 million, how many houses can be built using that R400 million. It’s a joke,” Kekana said. 

Commission Nothing but a waste of time 

Kekana said that there have been many commissions and nothing ever came from it, deeming it a total waste of time. 

“We had many commissions, for example the Marikana commission- nothing happened, people were killed in front of our eyes (but) nothing happened,” Kekana referring to the death of several people shot dead by police, during protests in Marikana in August 2012.

“Andries Tatane was fighting for water, he was killed, nothing happened,” he added.  referring to a 33-year-old man shot and killed by police during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg in 2011.

No water after a democratic government 

Kekana said millions of rand were being wasted while the people of Makapanstad in the Northern Cape had no adequate drinking water.

“During the era of the Bophuthatswana government (during apartheid rule) there was water in Makapanstad. It is only after we ushered in a democratic government that there is no water,” he said.

Forum 4 Service Delivery 

Kekana said his party wanted to take control of Moretele municipality in North West, so it could demonstrate its governing capabilities.

Forum 4 Service Delivery was founded in 2016 to tackle grassroot issues such as children going to school without shoes. It contested municipal elections in 2016, winning seats in municipalities in the North West province and Metsimaholo in the Free State.

The party was the official opposition in the Mamusa municipality in North West, before the council was dissolved.

Kekana said although the party had not won a seat in the national assembly in May 2019, he was happy that it finished 23rd out of 48 parties that contested the general election.