President Ramaphosa pledged to fight state capture, get rid of corruption inside government and restore integrity to public institutions However, several disappointing years on, we must accept he failed to deliver on his main promises, says the writer.
Image: File
"Thuma Mina" was the famous call to action used by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
It brought hope and optimism to honest, right-thinking citizens wanting to see an end to the Gupta era of grand theft and the trillion-rand looting spree in Transnet, Eskom, the metros, and other state institutions riddled with corruption and theft.
The biggest problem has been the ANC's inability to separate party and state.
Ramaphosa pledged to fight state capture, get rid of corruption inside the government and restore integrity to public institutions. We were expecting a massive fight against this great evil, corruption, second only to that crime against humanity: apartheid. However, several disappointing years on, we must accept he failed to deliver on his main promises.
The electorate finally sent him a clear message, and his ruling African National Congress lost its majority, forcing it into a Government of National Unity. Still, Ramaphosa was there, promising us that the multiparty government he led, would curb corruption and prosecute the crooks. Again, another hollow promise
"Thuma Mina" bring to mind the famous Bee Gees song, It's Only Words.
Under the watch of this president and his predecessors, policing, health, electricity, roads, toll roads, clinics, RDP housing, middle income housing and universities have all gone backwards. While some metros, like Durban had AAA credit ratings, they now suffer severe cashflow problems with ballooning costs for residents to pick up the burden of their theft and mismanagement.
The general body of citizens are numb from all the daily videos, court cases and stories of corruption. Add this to "hits" on whistle-blowers, true patriots, and we have a country that is far, far away from the words of the president who said "Thuma Mina".
These words should haunt him to his last days on Mother Earth. He failed South Africa, he failed the ANC, he failed himself and he failed everyone who believed in him.
The Zondo Commission cost hundreds of millions and exposed widespread corruption, but where did it get us? Just more unfulfilled promises. All those late nights and long days gone to nought. So why would anyone have faith now that we can turn around this ship loaded with murder, theft, lies and failing institutions? Water and electricity in most municipalities and metros are in a woeful state. Our roads? The less said, the better. So just how did we allow our country to fail so badly?
I finally concluded that we are a bunch of self-centred individuals with little or no patriotism. We stood by and watched it fall, brick by brick. When we reported in our newspapers on the corruption at the Durban Metro, way back in 2008, politicians defended the officials. ANC officials (some since retired and others booted out because they had the wrong skin colour) have now belatedly come to realise our exposés were real.
And those were early days of corruption, focused mainly on housing and transport. Closer to home the well-documented saga of a corrupt state, including local governments like KwaDukuza Municipality, should rile every ratepayer who slogs to meet bills. What amazes me is that, at this municipality, only two officials have been suspended despite hundreds of millions of corrupt deals and wasteful expenditure.
How is that possible? There have to be many more who need to be investigated, surely. Who are the consultants who failed us, ratepayers? All these contracts worth millions had consultants, and one of whom appeared to even land many contracts.
Should the Special Investigating Unit not investigate them?
The iLembe District Municipality is also in the firing line, with corruption allegations levelled there as well. iLembe has been a disaster for more than 20 years – without a single official charged in any court of law. The Rocky Park housing project is a case in point: damning reports, not just one. Yet nothing. Amid exorbitant bills for water and electricity bills, and huge losses of both, officials continue, with impunity, to live beyond their means, their snouts in the public feeding trough.
"Thuma Mina" was fashionably replaced with "it is my turn to eat".
The rot in the provincial department of Human Settlements is well known. At KDM, no one has answered for failed projects and ill-advised property investments lying fallow. Land bought for millions has not had a stone turned in 20 years.
If it was not so sad, one could think we are watching a live comedy show. One can’t make up these stories even if one tried. The arms deal was our first big corrupt deal, followed by the World Cup where construction companies inflated prices, and bribed officials and politicians. Since then, the floodgates have been opened. And so it goes. Pay bribes, and become a facilitator of hungry officials and politicians.
The ANC always said it was a collective. That collective got rid of president Thabo Mbeki and replaced him with Jacob Zuma. Then they claimed Zuma was a mistake. We wonder what they will say when Ramaphosa’s term ends. Unless citizens stand up and refuse to pay for poor, bad and no service delivery, the rot will continue. Unless residents and voters form strong bodies to hold officials and politicians accountable, we will be worse off sooner rather than later.
Is there any hope?
"Thuma Mina" ain’t coming anytime soon.
Haresh
Image: Supplied
Haresh Ouderajh is a former publisher and journalist.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.