THE Council for the Advancement of The South African Constitution has launched a multi-sector anti-corruption campaign tagged Red Card Corruption
Casac has also called for a "dedicated independent statutory agency whose sole mandate would be to educate the public about corruption, fearlessly and without favour investigate all forms of corruption, and cause appropriate measures to be taken against all those caught in the act".
For it to be effective, Casac says, such an agency must be free from political or any other form of influence, with civil society involved in the appointment of its leaders.
"It must enjoy independence similar to that of our judiciary," Casac chairperson Sipho Pityana says.
The agency must be funded by Parliament with taxpayers' money "because taxes are there to promote good governance".
Casac is a civil society initiative by prominent South Africans, including ex-government officials such as former foreign affairs director-general Sipho Pityana, former water affairs minister Kader Asmal and former National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala.
Other individuals involved in the initiative include head of Media 24 Journalism Academy Mathatha Tsedu, former vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town Mamphela Ramphele, Justice Kate O' Kegan and businessman Bobby Godsell.
One of Casac's objective is to close the gap between the vision of the Constitution and the lived reality for many citizens.
As far as Casac is concerned, corruption is a key factor contributing to the gap between the vision and the reality. Hence its "Red Card Corruption" campaign.
Speaking at the campaign's launch at Lilies Leaf Resource Centre, Pityana said there was need for such an initiative because there was "a growing crisis of confidence in the resolution of dealing decisively with the issue of corruption".
"The gaps are quiet gaping," said Pityana. "We have heard the rhetoric of anti-corruption from our leaders, but we have seen it grow and covered up every time it raises its ugly head. We have seen the machinery of powerful oligarchy muzzle, suppress and discredit institutions and sometimes people who take daring steps to combat the scourge."
Driving his point home, Pityana argued that the government's response to former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi's conviction on fraud charges typified this phenomenon.
"With a guilty finding against him, any other country that claims to be serious about fighting corruption as we do, would have see the president appoint an independent judicial commission of enquiry into corruption in the police services.
"Instead," Pityana said, "the president appointed a successor mired by allegations of corruption, favouritism and cronyism".
"The Public Protector's report has further shaken public confidence in the police services. A development which stands to break morale at a time when fighting crime has become so crucial," Pityana said.
He was also critical of the government's handling of the report. He said cabinet should have shown its respect for the report and sanctioned Public Work Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde for her role in the controversial R500million police headquarters lease.
Ginwala said the problem with the manner in which corruption was being dealt with was that it was being used as a tool for political discourse.
She said what South Africa needed was a culture based on integrity and ethical behaviour wherein those exposed to be corrupt "hang their heads in shame."
Graft red-carded
THE Council for the Advancement of The South African Constitution has launched a multi-sector anti-corruption campaign tagged Red Card Corruption
Casac has also called for a "dedicated independent statutory agency whose sole mandate would be to educate the public about corruption, fearlessly and without favour investigate all forms of corruption, and cause appropriate measures to be taken against all those caught in the act".
For it to be effective, Casac says, such an agency must be free from political or any other form of influence, with civil society involved in the appointment of its leaders.
"It must enjoy independence similar to that of our judiciary," Casac chairperson Sipho Pityana says.
The agency must be funded by Parliament with taxpayers' money "because taxes are there to promote good governance".
Casac is a civil society initiative by prominent South Africans, including ex-government officials such as former foreign affairs director-general Sipho Pityana, former water affairs minister Kader Asmal and former National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala.
Other individuals involved in the initiative include head of Media 24 Journalism Academy Mathatha Tsedu, former vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town Mamphela Ramphele, Justice Kate O' Kegan and businessman Bobby Godsell.
One of Casac's objective is to close the gap between the vision of the Constitution and the lived reality for many citizens.
As far as Casac is concerned, corruption is a key factor contributing to the gap between the vision and the reality. Hence its "Red Card Corruption" campaign.
Speaking at the campaign's launch at Lilies Leaf Resource Centre, Pityana said there was need for such an initiative because there was "a growing crisis of confidence in the resolution of dealing decisively with the issue of corruption".
"The gaps are quiet gaping," said Pityana. "We have heard the rhetoric of anti-corruption from our leaders, but we have seen it grow and covered up every time it raises its ugly head. We have seen the machinery of powerful oligarchy muzzle, suppress and discredit institutions and sometimes people who take daring steps to combat the scourge."
Driving his point home, Pityana argued that the government's response to former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi's conviction on fraud charges typified this phenomenon.
"With a guilty finding against him, any other country that claims to be serious about fighting corruption as we do, would have see the president appoint an independent judicial commission of enquiry into corruption in the police services.
"Instead," Pityana said, "the president appointed a successor mired by allegations of corruption, favouritism and cronyism".
"The Public Protector's report has further shaken public confidence in the police services. A development which stands to break morale at a time when fighting crime has become so crucial," Pityana said.
He was also critical of the government's handling of the report. He said cabinet should have shown its respect for the report and sanctioned Public Work Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde for her role in the controversial R500million police headquarters lease.
Ginwala said the problem with the manner in which corruption was being dealt with was that it was being used as a tool for political discourse.
She said what South Africa needed was a culture based on integrity and ethical behaviour wherein those exposed to be corrupt "hang their heads in shame."
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