/ MEDIA STATEMENT / 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.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Eastern Cape has noted with concern the raiding of the Hawks Office of Captain Luphumlo Lwana. This is done in the face of many unresolved fraud and corruption cases at the hands of the Hawks.

As the SACP, we refuse to believe that the raid into Captain Lwana’s office and confiscation of files of cases of political leaders and senior government officials has nothing to do with service delivery. We view it as the continuation of the abuse of state apparatus in general and state security forces to resolve political questions.

It is one of the clear cases of the political manipulation and blatant abuse of power which we rejected during the time of the scorpions. We are not going to accept it now because it is the Hawks nor will we accept it tomorrow when and if these unethical conducts are committed under another name or in favour of certain corrupt political cartel.

Our struggle against corruption, rent seeking, abuse of state resources for factional gains is a principled struggle which is in defence of our hard-won democracy. We are calling for the relevant authorities including oversight bodies to get closer to the situation and act against political protection of corrupt people regardless of the position they may be holding.

The law must be allowed to take its full course without undue political interference as part of restoring dignity and confidence to the ANC led movement.

As the SACP, we wish to salute the stance taken by the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) in this regard as vigilance and mobilisation of workers is a precondition for our ability to defend our democracy and the rights of workers and the people as enshrined in the constitution.

As the SACP, we commit to work with POPCRU and other worker formations in a struggle against corruption and unethical behaviour and in defence of our hard-won democracy and the rights of workers and the people.

Issued by the SACP Eastern Cape.