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OPINION | Ricardo Mackenzie: Western Cape anti-corruption efforts should be emulated countrywide

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In the Western Cape, the provincial government has fully cooperated with the SIU in all investigations, writes the author.
In the Western Cape, the provincial government has fully cooperated with the SIU in all investigations, writes the author.
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Clean and effective governments are possible in South Africa, and such a reality does not have to be confined to only the Western Cape, writes Ricardo Mackenzie.


For the first time in South Africa’s democratic history, a former President is now behind bars. Not for corruption, theft, or fraud, but rather for contempt of court. And without the Constitutional Court’s backbone, Jacob Zuma would still be rallying supporters under Level 4 restrictions in front of his home – the one ‘upgraded’ with taxpayers’ money. 

Mr Zuma’s legacy is state capture and corruption. We see that live on with our failed State Security Agency and national police. For many South Africans, the past month in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng have demonstrated how ineffectual our security and intelligence forces have become. Political leadership could not effectively prevent and tackle mass looting, which resulted in the loss of over 300 lives. This same leadership produced arguably the greatest threat to our country’s economic growth and democracy: the pillaging of state resources to enrich the well-connected at the expense of ordinary residents.

While Minister Bheki Cele seemed to have forgotten his department’s mandate and stalled rather and arrested Mr. Zuma, there remain important actors within our society that combat and uproot corruption. NGOs and pressure groups have kept government and representatives accountable and partnered to serve residents. Similarly, our judiciary has been battered and bruised but remains unbroken, upholding the law and is the preeminent institution supporting all South Africans’ rights.

Accountability 

Despite severe widespread mistrust of government, clean and honest political leadership does indeed stand out, albeit an exception to the general rule. The Western Cape Government, for example, has been true to its word in holding zero-tolerance for corruption. In fact, in the last year, of the 66 cases that the Provincial Forensic Services investigated, 37 cases were closed, with another 23 needing further investigation. As a Member of the province’s legislature, I am one of those who take oversight in this regard seriously; we will hold our Premier and his cabinet to account.

That is why in this province, we can report back that a total of 13 cases were closed with no adverse findings, and 5 departments started and finished the 2019/20 financial year without a case being reported to it for fraud or corruption. And where sufficient evidence was found, the Western Cape Government reported cases to the South African Police Services for further investigation. In fact, the Provincial Forensic Services conducts more than 100 training sessions on fraud and corruption every year to educate government employees and create a whistleblower-friendly environment. 

Unfortunately, the same care cannot be found in other provinces. In Kwa-Zulu Natal, ironies of ironies, an e-procurement tool meant to curb corruption during the tender process is itself tainted with corruption: R30 million was irregularly spent on the project. At the beginning of this month, the SIU reported that they had referred 131 cases of alleged fraud and corruption to the tune of R3.4 billion to the Hawks, most of which took place in the Eastern Cape. 

Fraudulent PEE contracts 

The seeds planted and which flourished under President Zuma’s administration were more than ready to take full advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. The SIU is currently investigating a shocking R14.2 billion worth of suspected fraudulent and corrupt PPE contracts – this is nearly half of all funds spent by government on PPE procurement. 

In the Western Cape, the provincial government has fully cooperated with the SIU in all investigations. It has submitted reports and other documents when requested. In fact, of the 34 contracts which were under-considered by the SIU, zero were found to be irregular. According to the Auditor General's report, the province is also consistently the best performing province. It was the first to produce a public PPE disclosure report, so that residents knew exactly how their money was being spent.  

Clean and effective governments are possible in South Africa, and such a reality does not have to be confined to only the Western Cape. Every resident of this country deserves reputable governance that delivers on time, with transparency, and offers value for our hard-earned buck. During the Local Government elections, we all have a choice to make at the ballot box – I urge every South African to make the change we deserve. 

- MPL Ricardo Mackenzie is the Standing Committee Chairperson for Premier & Constitutional Matters at the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. He communicates in his capacity as the DA Western Cape spokesperson for the portfolio.

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