The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Corruption is a serious challenge facing our democratic transformation. Many have appropriately defined corruption analogously as a cancer that eats at the fibre of our development, such that where it occurs, it leaves the various developmental initiatives morally bankrupt.

All our efforts at development to transform South Africa from the design of the apartheid past is informed by the ideals of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society. However, corruption subverts this important ideal of prosperity for all.

Recently we were dismayed to learn of a case where what is known as an RDP house was built for a whooping R16 million! As it transpired, a service provider was awarded a tender to build over 700 houses, but consequently short changed not only the government, but also the deserving poor people who were the intended beneficiaries.

This is what COSATU calls tenderpreneurs, and if there is merit in the published media reports, they also defrauded the taxpayer and by extension the entire nation! It is important to recognise right at the outset that our transformative Constitution is founded on effective and progressive values that are geared towards the transformation spearheaded by our Developmental State, and also on the fundamental principles that counter all forms of corruption known and those still to be conceived in the future.

The commitment to an open and democratic society which permeates our Constitution, the doctrine of separation of powers espoused in the Constitution, and the independent and strong judiciary and the foundational rule of law principle, all underpin the values of accountability and responsiveness enshrined in the Constitution.

The Constitution, which represents the will of the people, is consistent with the letter and spirit of the Freedom Charter adopted by our people in 1955. It entails the most effective weaponry to rid the state and society of corruption in all its manifestations.

The institutions supporting constitutional democracy and other institutions including the judiciary are entrusted with constitutional authority which they must exercise independently and free from any form of undue influence. Not only is the State barred from interfering with these institutions, but it is enjoined by the Constitution to support them through legislation and other measures to ensure their effectiveness, independence and impartiality.

The ANC-led government has, in carrying out the mandate of the overwhelming majority of the citizens of this country, enacted progressive and effective laws to give effect to these fundamental values in the Constitution. It is therefore befitting that as we celebrate the ANC's centenary, we take stock of the gains we have made in the 17 years of democracy, including the triumphant battle we continue to wage against crime and corruption.

The values of openness and transparency that underpin our participatory democracy have made it possible that ordinary citizens and the media report and debate incidences of corruption freely. These are the fruits of the selfless struggle waged by the ANC in its 100 years of existence. Not only did the laws and policies of the apartheid and colonial regimes obscure and hide the most heinous forms of corruption, but they also helped ferment the scourge of corruption that threatens to erode the gains of our hard-fought democracy.

Our government has taken progressive steps to combat corruption, which hirtherto has been a persisted culture both in our private and public sectors. Our aim is to ensure that criminals must be denied the opportunity to benefit from ill-gotten wealth. The achievements of the Asset Forfeiture Unit prove without doubt that economic crimes can be successfully fought within the Rule of Law.

For the first time in the history of this country, the so-called "top dogs" of crime are made to face justice and give account of their assets. In the past 10 years, the AFU working with its partners has made a significant impact on crime and there has been a constant increase in the number and value of cases done. We are however agreed that such initiatives are not enough until we have corruption nipped in the bud in every facet of government, of our economy, of various civil society institutions and in the private sector.

We need also to discourage the small levels of corruption which occur at lower levels of society, because it is these small bribes of drinks, lunches, teas, traffic fines, small presents and being paid small amounts for assisting in jumping the queue which graduates into a culture of impunity and high levels of corruption. Once we create the impression that corruption is a way of South African life, we would have lost the battle in a long war against this scourge.

The integrity of our democracy was recently further celebrated and signified as a symbol of the "Flame of Democracy" that was lit by the Deputy President at the Constitutional Hill premises. It can be argued that corruption seeks to extinguish this flame that shines as hope for all our people.

In the article, "Democracy has left the building", Shalini Kagal makes the following telling appraisal on the "flame of democracy":

"Once upon a time, many countries decided to light up a new flame of their own and keep it burning bright. Every person in the country gave a bit of his light and soon, there was a huge flame that burned bright for its people. A flame that stood for energy, a flame that promised equality for all, freedom for all, security for all who lived in its light. The flame was called Democracy and it was well named because it was of the people, by the people, for the people."

In warning against the pitfalls of taking the fundamentals of democracy for granted, Shalini Kagal continues to assert the following:

"The change happened very slowly and it happened in all the countries that had the flame of Democracy alight. The people who kept giving to keep the flame alight didn't notice what was happening and as long as they felt the flame they had lit was burning, they felt secure and went about their daily business as usual.

Slowly, the shadow figures moved in, casting their long shadows of greed and hunger for power on the light that burned. The flame that had been lit by the people was slowly being controlled by a few who definitely did not have the people's interests at heart. One day, all that was left of the flame were a few glowing embers and when it left the building, no one noticed and no one cared."

Indeed, as Shalini Kagal would attest, the rot crept in slowly like cancer until the entire national moral fibre was completely rotten! We will not and we must not allow our revolutionary agenda to be subverted by a few corrupt officials!

We should ensure that our people are not mere passive recipients of the various values flowing from our democratic transformation, but also important role players in furthering and strengthening its various tenets, such as combating corruption. Otherwise, as indicated by Shalini Kagal, we risk loosing this "flame of democracy" that saw our celebrated peaceful triumph over apartheid, a flame which remains a beacon of hope to the world.

On many occasions, we do not appreciate fully the role of the media as an important watchdog over corruption and we fail to applaud it for its sterling role in combating corruption. Much of the corruption has been exposed because we have built institutions and broader enabling environment for the people to expose acts of corruption.

It is the freedom of the press that is protected by our progressive Constitution that enables the media to unravel all forms of corruption in our country. In fact the social awareness about corruption is indicative of the freedoms and enabling platforms to speak about and report on corruption. We would like the media to continue in its tireless effort to expose corruption wherever it rears its ugly head.

We must continue to work for a better life for all, a vision derived from the letter and spirit of our Constitution. This vision seeks to attend to the disparities and backlogs occasioned by decades of apartheid misrule and centuries of colonialism. It is what in the Strategy and Tactics document we have termed a "National Democratic Society" where the values of our constitution would find the living expression for all to enjoy.

This vision speaks of the need to provide houses for those who cannot afford them. It speaks of the provision of water and sanitation for all our people. It speaks of connecting electricity not only to do away with the environmental degradation caused by the use of firewood, but also to improve the standard of living for the poor.

It also speaks of providing education to all our children and the youth, so as to restore the dignity and pride that was taken away by apartheid. It speaks of proving affordable and accessible quality health care for all. This vision also speaks of providing jobs so that every citizen partakes in the economic activities of our country as a legitimate and dignified source of living. In the intervening period ahead of realising most of our ideals, this vision speaks of providing safety net for the poor through various grants.

Corruption subverts all initiatives to create a better life for all inspired by the greed of corrupt officials. What corruption does, it loudly proclaims that the blood of Solomon Mahlangu, of Chris Hani and the various martyrs who fought for our constitutional democracy were shed in vain. Corruption is a criminal act that steals away the fruits of our liberation struggle and it must be declared the new enemy as apartheid was a common enemy for all justice loving people!

We note the initiatives of Corruption Watch with appreciation and believe that it will exploit the unchartered territory in the private sector, in particular. We trust that it would augment government's efforts in uprooting corruption and its endeavours will be targeted at corruption. We have seen how corruption in its advanced stages leads to political unrest and underdevelopment from experiences around the world.

We have seen how our delivery programmes get undermined resulting, amongst others, to social protests. In many instances, these protests are fuelled by the knowledge that government has actually allocated resources for various developmental purposes, but that these resources were then hijacked by greedy tendepreneurs.

It is important that we collectively send the unambiguous message to all criminally minded people that we have both the will and capacity to act against the malice of corruption. Together we must show that the rule of law will forever reign supreme as the glue that binds us as proud citizens of a corruption free and prosperous society! Together we must work towards building a society where people desist from crass materialism, conspicuous consumption and lavish lifestyles in favour of honest living based on hard work.

The ANC NEC made resolution to increase efforts at combating corruption wherever it rears its ugly head and irrespective of who is involved. This is in line with the oath by which every new ANC member swears upon joining our glorious movement which also captures the culture and character of a typical ANC member throughout the past 100 years, and I quote:

"I, ..............., solemnly declare that I will abide by the aims and objectives of the African National Congress as set out in the Constitution, the Freedom Charter and other duly adopted policy positions, that I am joining the organisation voluntarily and without motives of material advantage or personal gain, that I agree to respect the Constitution and the structures and to work as a loyal member of the organisation, that I will place my energies and skills at the disposal of the organisation and carry out tasks given to me, that I will work towards making the ANC an even more effective instrument of liberation in the hands of the people, and that I will defend the unity and integrity of the organisation and its principles, and combat any tendency towards disruption and factionalism"

This oath captures the spirit of the liberation movement's 100 years of existence, and to be corrupt or join the organisation for the express purpose of material gain it is to contradict the fundamental policy, culture and tradition of the ANC.

Let us join hands to build a kind of cadre who frowns at and disdain corruption. It must be a cadre who elects to serve the people selflessly because the sum of such cadreship would ensure a thriving movement that will continue to economically liberate our people from poverty and further consolidate their various freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution into the next century of the ANC!