Honorable Speaker,
This debate has come at the right time with yesterday’s release of a report by the Auditor-General where he confirms Covid-19 related corruption. We now know that R22.4 billion has been looted. The A-G also gave details of these corrupt deals including, overpricing and unfair processes which we also saw in the report published by the Premier a few weeks ago and which clearly proves fraud and corruption in government processes. It is also clear that the emergency procurement process for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was initiated for the sake of speedy looting, with only R6.7million out of R22.4billion being actual expenditure. Aninamahloni yazi nina, kufa abantu nibona ithuba lokuntshontsha, nithi asihlale ezindlini ukuze nithole ithuba lokweba thina singekho ukunigada.
Premier – the DA is here and we are going to hold the ANC accountable. You can try to hide behind load-shedding like you did last night – running away from a National Assembly portfolio committee when asked to explain the appointment of Zandile Gumede to the Legislature and why she is still being paid by the Legislature. Instead of responding, the Premier decided to drop the connection, later saying it was due to load-shedding.
Honorable Speaker, I hope the ANC will accept criticism today and the fact that they are engineers of corruption. A good starting point is that President Ramaphosa has finally admitted that the majority of ANC leaders are corrupt and that the task ahead for the ANC is renewal, which is an internal process.
There is a saying that you need to use a thief to catch a thief. Perhaps the ANC had this in mind when it chose its representatives for the integrity committee. We also heard that the President appointed a group of comrades from the same pool of corrupt ministers to investigate Covid-19 related corruption. What a joke.
Kodwake soyicela ivuthiwe Somlomo, inkinga enkulu angikaze ngiyibone ekhonkotha nethambo emlonyeni. Kobe kuqala nje okwembuzi kaSosobala.
Speaker, there is a huge difference between fighting corruption and acting as though you are fighting corruption – something the Premier is doing. Here in KZN, the ANC PEC is flip-flopping on the Zandile Gumede matter because some of them know that when she speaks out more of them will be implicated. Amagwala ayesaba.
The DA wants to trust the Premier. The problem is that he always does the direct opposite to what he says he will. Premier – can you tell us about one of your DDG’s who was acting as a HOD within KZN’s Department of Social Development (DSD)? Where is he now while others have been suspended? How can you say you are serious about fighting corruption when you keep redeploying corrupt comrades?
Speaker, the challenge we are facing is that the ANC keeps talking about corruption but no one is ever arrested for corruption amongst KZN’s comrades. There are at least three cabinet members and a few Members who are currently part of this Sitting who would be under arrest if law enforcement was allowed to work without fear or favor and without any form of political interference. I will give you some of the case numbers and if you want me to I will name them too. These are some of the matters which are being investigated by the Hawks – and some by the Special Investigative unit;
– Abaqulusi Municipality, case no:95/12/2019 Corruption case involving two ANC councilors and regional secretary, Mzala Nxumalo. The ANC is still protecting these individuals despite evidence that they were arrested by the Hawks for bribing a DA councilor. I know this case very well because I organized a set up with the Hawks. When are you going to ask them to step aside or step down? Or will you apply the same terms that you used for Zandile Gumede?
– In Ethekwini Municipality, there are 67 councillors implicated in fraud and corruption. Why are you protecting them?
– In uMsunduzi Municipality, Case No: 2042/5/2018, there are allegations of a R500 million security contract where some Members sitting here benefitted. You know who they are Honourable Premier. Some officials were also implicated but they were redeployed. One of them was a Director who was then promoted to another municipality – as Municipal Manager – while facing both disciplinary and criminal charges. Namuthatha nayombeka kwesiphezulu ngoba unintshontshela kahle, heyi ngoba nina
– Mkhanyakude Municipality, Case no :12/2/20. The game being played by the ANC is hiding behind the conflict between the Municipal Manager and the Mayor. This case will reveal some of the engineers of corruption in Mkhanyakude – some of whom are sitting here and;
– Harry Gwala Municipality, Case No: 64/6/2019. This case should help you in your quest to remove corrupt individuals. Again, some are sitting right here
– Umngeni Municipality, 235/7/2020. The people who are exposing corruption here are being intimidated. Again, some of the people sitting here are involved
Other matters which the Premier needs to focus on are;
– In Umgungundlovu Municipality there are 25 water tankers yet council is paying for 50 trucks. Premier, go and investigate these allegations and come back and tell us if it’s not true. Inkinga some are benefiting bahleli lana
– Premier, tell us about the funding of the Mall in Bhamshela that doesn’t exist even after money was spent two years ago while you were still MEC for Economic Development? Are you worried about the resignation of the CEO yesterday?
– In terms of the investigations into KZN’s Department of Social Development – you released the 4th forensic report, where are the other reports? And are you planning to do further investigations into allegations that the MEC’s son benefitted from the blanket scandal?
During this years’ State of the Province (SOPA) address the Premier spoke about lifestyle audits for cabinet members. Yet he keeps making excuses about National Policy which is not yet finalized. This is no excuse when the Western Cape cabinet have successfully concluded such audits for all Members and a report was released to the public. Premier – why can’t you do the same here in KZN?
The DA does not believe that South Africans can hope to expect anything from government’s Integrity Committee. This is just another group created to fight internal political battles. Imagine listening to Ace Magashule talking about integrity while he is still not willing to account for corruption in the Free State. Or to President Ramaphosa while he is fighting in court against the disclosure of allegedly corrupt funding around the CR17 campaign?
Our task as citizens is to save our country from thieves and looters within the ANC so that future generations have something left. The alternative is that this ship – so heavily loaded with corruption, patronage, poor policy and nepotism – will sink with all of us on board.
KZN Legislature Debate on a Matter of Public Importance on the allegations of corruption, particularly around Covid-19 expenditure