Ramaphosa appoints envoys Zimbabwe

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses virtual conference on Africa Leadership Role in Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Access / GCIS

Ramaphosa talks tough on corruption, poor track record leaves SA doubtful

The looting of funds intended to ease the pandemic-induced pressure on poor South Africans is a special kind of repugnant.

Ramaphosa appoints envoys Zimbabwe

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses virtual conference on Africa Leadership Role in Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Access / GCIS

President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to root out elements of corruption associated with funds intended to provide financial relief to embattled South Africans.

On Thursday night, Ramaphosa addressed the nation on two primary issues; the contentious closing of schools amid a burgeoning coronavirus caseload and government’s commitment to fight the scourge of corruption which threatens the legitimacy of vital economic relief programmes. While both issues have served as flashpoints of debate during the local coronavirus outbreak, the issue of malfeasance — and political unaccountability — has struck a particularly painful chord with South Africans.

This comes at a time when millions of livelihoods have been thrown into the abyss of unemployment, with millions more staring down the precipice as a result of lockdown’s long-term economic consequences. Ramaphosa’s harsh words for looters coincide with the protracted inquiry into state capture — which has secured zero convictions — and has likely produced a post-traumatic stress response associated with the Jacob Zuma era.

Indeed, Ramaphosa’s entire presidential campaign was built on the foundations of ethical accountability and a hard-line approach to cracking corruption.

South African corruption in a time of COVID-19

It’s only natural, then, that South Africans have felt blighted, not only by inaction since Ramaphosa was elected in early 2018, but by news of corruption creeping into the coffers amid a debilitating pandemic. As South Africans sink further into poverty, with millions more now forced to rely on government assistance for basic provisions, the thought of economic exploitation — at the hands of those entrusted to provide relief — adds a darker stain to Ramaphosa’s tenure.

Red flags arose shortly after Ramaphosa announced a prolific R500 billion relief package — funded by taxpayers, international banks and budgetary diversions — which was intended to fortify South Africa’s response to the pandemic by saving both lives and livelihoods.

Problematic municipalities have, however, been accused of dipping their hands into the cookie jar, engaging in irregular tender practices and siphoning off relief funds for personal profit. Misconduct was uncovered in OR Tambo municipality in the Eastern Cape — whereby a R4.8 million awareness campaign failed to knock on any doors — and in Gauteng, where a multimillion rand deal for personal protective equipment (PPE) raised further alarms.

The latter, which was singled out as a point of serious concern by Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, has a dubious connection to the presidency. It’s alleged that President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko, secured a lucrative supply contract for her husband, King Madzikane Thandisizwe Diko II. This tender, which Diko has vehemently denied any involvement in, is estimated to have cost government R125 million for the supply of PPEs to Gauteng.

Khusela Diko argues that she had, in fact, advised her husband to withdraw from the contract, citing concerns over a ‘conflict of interest’.

Special Investigating Unit ‘unencumbered’

With allegations swirling around government — and even closer to home — Ramaphosa, on Thursday night, was forced to confront the glaring issue of corruption. The president confirmed that government had been inundated with calls for accountability, citing allegations about fraudulent UIF claims, overpricing of goods and services, violation of emergency procurement regulations, collusion between officials and service providers, abuse of food parcel distribution and the creation of fake non-profit organisations to access relief funding.

As a result of the ballooning allegations and preliminary evidence pointing to the wanton looting of state funds, Ramaphosa resolved to intensify government’s response. The president confirmed that, in addition to ordering greater cooperation between the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Hawks, Crime Intelligence and the SAPS Detective Service, the South African Revenue Service, the Special Investigating Unit and the State Security Agency, the SIU would be unencumbered to expose the rot of corruption. Ramaphosa said:

“In order to speed up and strengthen the process of dealing with corruption, I have today signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit – the SIU – to investigate any unlawful or improper conduct in the procurement of any goods, works and services during or related to the national state of disaster in any state institution.

This empowers the SIU to probe any allegations relating to the misuse of COVID-19 funds across all spheres of the state.

If the SIU finds evidence that a criminal offence has been committed, it is obliged to refer such evidence to the prosecuting authority.

It is also empowered to institute civil proceedings for the recovery of any damages or losses incurred by the state.

To ensure that action is taken speedily, I will be getting interim reports on investigations every six weeks.”

The president added that the punishment for profiteering illegally from the pandemic would be severe.

Ramaphosa must ‘start with Khusela Diko’s husband’ – EFF

While Ramaphosa’s tough talks on corruption ticked the right boxes, many feel that the president’s bark is far worse than his bite. Citing a poor track record of successful convictions, coinciding with the SIU’s ‘toothless’ offense, opposition parties and civil societies have criticised Ramaphosa’s proclamations as nothing more than dreamy lip service.

Democratic Alliance (DA) MP and Shadow Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Phumzile Van Damme, questioned Ramaphosa’s effectiveness:

“OK. Name five high ranking politicians behind bars for corruption since Ramaphosa became President. Just five. Small ting.”

Van Damme’s colleague and Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry, Dean Macpherson, echoed similar sentiments, asking:

“Why does Cyril Ramaphosa talk about corruption like he’s some kind of opposition politician? He’s the Head of State, the President, number 1! He can actually do something about it but doesn’t! The man is not having us on this one.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also raised serious doubts about Ramaphosa’s ability or willingness to actively pursue corrupt officials who belong to the ruling African National Congress (ANC). EFF Commissar and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said:

“We can’t trust a billionaire president who attained a court order to seal documents containing his campaign funders to fight COVID-19 corruption? If those who funded him are looting COVID-19 funds, it is obvious he will do nothing!

If Ramaphosa is serious about combatting COVID-19 corruption, start with Khusela Diko’s husband who marked up surgical masks by over 400%.”

EFF Deputy President, Floyd Shivambu, added that “there is no R500 billion relief package” insinuating that either the relief package never existed or that the funds had already been looted and exhausted.