COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, has lashed out at leaders who dabble in corruption to satisfy their selfish needs. He was speaking at the Rustenburg Magistrate Court where the former Mayor of Rustenburg, Mathew Wolmarans, and his two co-accused, appeared for a bail application in a case of murder and conspiracy to murder.

The trio, who were denied bail, is charged for killing a prominent COSATU local leader who was also a local councillor, Moss Phakoe. He was gunned down in 2009 at the driveway of his home in Rustenburg after returning from an ANC 2009 election campaign.

The incident occurred two days after Phakoe handed over documents containing allegations of corruption at the Rustenburg Local Municipality to Minister of Cooperative Governance, Sicelo Shiceka.

Addressing hundreds of COSATU members outside the court, Vavi said that COSATU must ensure that no one steals and hides behind the ANC. “Corruption denies poor people basic services such as water and electricity and most importantly jobs,” he said to thunderous applause.

He thanked members of COSATU, ANC and SACP for the support they have given to Phakoe family and for campaigning to ensure that those who are implicated in Phakoe’s murder were brought to book. “Had you not persistently marched to police stations demanding justice, this case could have long ago collapsed. We must also thank the police for their sterling work in finding those who were behind this criminal act.” He said that Phakoe’s name has been added to an ever growing list of people who have been murdered for whistle blowing in North West, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.

Vavi also lambasted tenderpreneurs who loot the resources of the state for their narrow and selfish ends. “The ANC must liberated from such elements,”

The trial date has been set for Monday.