The Congress of South African Trade Unions is not surprised that DA leader Mmusi Maimane is alleged to have accepted a Toyota Fortuner from fraud-accused Markus Jooste. The DA and Mmaimane have acted as shop stewards of the South African private sector for a long time.

The DA and Maimane are puppets and stooges that have been used to prop up the apartheid inherited capitalist system and it is not surprising that is now alleged that they have been accepting gifts from some tainted characters like Markus Jooste.

We now know why they have been losing their voice when it comes to fighting private sector corruption. The unethical and corrupt conduct of the private sector is being defended and explained away by dishonest leaders so that they can keep getting the crumbs.

People are right to be worried about this because this shows the deterioration and dearth of leadership in the country across all political party lines. Markus Jooste was implicated in the collapse of Steinhoff and in the process, he destroyed the worker’s retirement savings. For Mmusi Maimane to be said to have accepted a gift from Markus Jooste was an endorsement of the nefarious things that Markus Jooste has been shown to have done.

These scandals are destroying the moral fibre of the country and are the reason that the country is sinking.COSATU is deeply alarmed at the cavalier attitude politicians across party lines have shown when it comes to workers’ pensions. 

It is very disappointing to see the lackadaisical approach of our law enforcement agencies like the NPA, the Hawks, SAPS, when it comes to prosecuting corruption. Why has no one been brought to book for the industrial-scale looting that took place at VBS, Steinhoff etc?

The federation is calling upon government, including the NPA and Hawks to do what they are paid to do.  Arrest those who stole or knowingly benefited from the proceeds of criminal acts.  They must all be forced to return workers’ stolen funds to the PIC.

Parliament itself must get its act together and hold the government to account for its failures to do so.  This is what voters expect from our public representatives.

COSATU further urges Parliament to now show some political courage and amend the fatally weak Political Party Funding Act.  The R100 000 donations threshold below which parties do not have to disclose must be removed.  The Act must be further tightened to require elected public representatives to equally be compelled to disclose all donations that they receive, be it in cash or kind.  We must put laws to constrain all politicians as they are beyond self-redemption.

Issued by COSATU
 
Sizwe Pamla (Cosatu National Spokesperson)

Tel: 011 339 4911
Fax: 011 339 5080

Cell: 060 975 6794