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Vusi Pikoli

 Often we see political leaders steal public funds today, but still occupy their office tomorrow. Then the next day they are appointed to higher office ... to do more damage to the economy 

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Pikoli said South Africa had developed into a “kleptocratic” state – losing R30-billion a year in social services corruption.

He highlighted a need to buck the trend if the “constitutional promise of a better life for all” was to be delivered.

Pikoli lambasted political leaders for their apparent abuse of the notion of “innocent until proven guilty”, saying that if a government official was accused of misconduct they should step down while the investigation was under way.

“Corruption is anti-Constitution and is extremely costly and requires strong political will,” he said.

“Look at Port Elizabeth, for instance. Walmer is burning because of housing delivery protests. There shouldn’t be such protests because it is not like housing is not budgeted for.

“Denialism is the new ‘-ism’ and the order of the day. We sometimes hear our leaders saying ‘there is no crisis’ when there clearly is one.

“Often we see political leaders steal public funds today, but still occupy their office tomorrow. Then the next day they are appointed to higher office ... to do more damage to the economy.”

Pikoli said the leadership vacuum and the lack of accountability contributed to the increasing levels of corruption that were ruining the country.

“Government is always claiming to be clamping down on corruption, yet we’ve seen an increase according to Transparency International’s Corruption Index,” he said.

“In 2010, we ranked number 54 on the index, but last year we were at number 64. Now tell me why can’t we be in the top 10? Or even top the list at number one?

“To deliver on the constitutional promise of a better life for all, we need to decisively deal with fraud and corruption because it depletes the very resources needed to deliver on that promise.”

He said corruption was not only rife in the public sector, but also in private companies, where “greed and price fixing” were quite prominent.

“We need to fight it with equal zeal and the reason more emphasis is placed on public sector corruption is that government has a higher moral ground and is expected to carry out the mandate of the people,” he said.

“We need [business, political and community] leaders who stand up for what’s right, irrespective of the consequences.”

Pikoli – who began his talk at the monthly Coega Business Forum at the Opera House in Port Elizabeth last night quoting news articles about fraud and corruption – lost his job at one of the country’s top five auditing firms, Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo, four months ago due to alleged political interference from members of the ANC.

In a tell-all interview with the Mail& over a month ago, Pikoli told how he was fired from SNG because “some ANC people” had threatened to cut off government contracts if he remained in their employ.

He headed the NPA at a turbulent time in politics, with Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi up for corruption charges and ANC president Jacob Zuma on trial for the rape of an HIV-positive woman.

In September 2007, just months before the ANC elective in Polokwane, Pikoli was suspended by then president Thabo Mbeki two weeks after he issued a warrant of arrest to disgraced Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi – Mbeki’s confidant.

After Mbeki’s untimely resignation, Pikoli was fired by his successor Kgalema Motlanthe, who was an ally of Jacob Zuma.

Comments

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Fri May 24 18:53:38 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 5, 2012

MommaC

Bless Pikoli. If we had more people like him, the country would be first class
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Jul 5, 2012

malemaforpresident

Denialism is the new ‘-ism’ and the order of the day. We sometimes hear our leaders saying ‘there is no crisis’ when there clearly is one.
=================================
i heard this from Angie Motshekga about text book crises in Limpopo - blooody ugly woman

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Jul 5, 2012

BokFan

Check out yengeni's criminal record
Check out Showara's history in the courts and outside of them

Pikoli is correct.

@malemaforprecedent

Didnt malema give you Zuma. he conned you then and he'll con you again. You really want more of the same? Buti you must stop sleepwalking
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Jul 5, 2012

LBS

We desperately need people of Vusi Pikoli's calibre in government!

Why have we been cursed with what we have, and constantly see only those with integrity being fired?

We deserve so much better, as a country!
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Jul 5, 2012

CheeseBoy

Its sad when people of principal and good values like Pikoli are bullied by evil and greedy thugs like Mbeki and Zuma.


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Jul 5, 2012

mathopeed

You can say it again Pikoli, a fish start to rot from the head. Our government is no longer ours (Masses), but theirs (ANC Gurus). SA is corrupt thats a fact, i wish we could have more of you. Goodluck
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Jul 5, 2012

MicaParis

Eish jaaa no to be honest Comrade Pikoli have nailed the matter right on top of the double headed Comrade ''beloved'' President of our country!
The most worrying fatal destructive fact is that ''Comrades'' are the most Primary Drivers of ''corrupt business'' in our country! Political crimes associated with white collar crimes are hitting the rafters in our country and yet the principal main top perpetrators are up there guesting as Ministers! But I am not surprised the President is indeed a top ''marks man'' as far as that kind of dirty shameful game is concerned and have even defended political tenderprenureship in front of a full blast Parliament!, to the dismay of all Honorable non ANC contaminated reasonable members! One of the reasons why Julius Malema is today outside the ANC, that is asking why Zuma's children became so filthy rich in two years time! I know Julius is not a messier on this as he is a common identical perpetrator and benefited from corruption as well! but got damn! he was alternatively also shamefully and blutendly right on something fishy on our top head Chief! so very sad and unfortunate for poor South Africa indeed!
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Jul 5, 2012

ThirdEye

A victim of honesty, that how I recognise him. It sad that our country has turned to this state.
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Jul 5, 2012

Nwanawamukalaha

Let's wait for Nathi "Mathousand" Mthethwa, Gwede "Khaphela" Mantashe, Jackson "Bridge" Mthembu and Malusi "oil skinned" Gigaba's responses................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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Jul 5, 2012

jnrb

According to Government’s remuneration committee website, the State President earned a salary of R2,485,839 w.e.f 1 April 2011 (see http://www.remcommission.gov.za/docs/recommendations/Annual%20Recommendation%202011-2012.pdf). Additionally according to the Mail & Guardian, President Jacob Zuma started expanding his remote family homestead at Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal for a whopping price of R65-million (see http://mg.co.za/article/2009-12-04-zumas-r65m-nkandla-splurge). Shortly before the Mail & Guardian’s deadline the presidency released a statement which read as follows: “The Zuma family planned before the elections to extend the Nkandla residence, and this is being done at own cost. No government funding will be utilised for the construction work.” Now how on earth can the President afford this on a salary of R2,485 million per annum? Even if we assumed that he paid neither tax on his salary nor interest on a loan of R65 million (both of which are highly unlikely) and has no other expenses, it would still take him 26 years to repay this amount. Does he therefore have other sources of income? If so, what are these and does he pay tax on them? Who is paying for Nkandla?

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