We have taken note of the charges laid against the finance minister, Mr. Gordhan.
While we respect the independence of the Hawks and the courts, as well as the need for the court processes to take their course in this matter, we continue to argue that, at some level, the current crisis both represents and escalates the perceived situation of a ruling party at war with itself.

We therefore reiterate our position that the president and the ruling party have an ethical duty to assure the country that the charges are not a part of a broader ploy to weaken Treasury’s capacity to fight tender corruption and inefficient governance of state-owned enterprises.

While we accept that the President cannot stop the court processes in Mr. Gordhan’s case, we appeal to him to take necessary steps to address the systemic issues behind the situation of the government at war with itself.

We wish to remind our political leaders that the fierce factional battles within the ruling party, as well as the use of state institutions to fight such factional battles, are not in the interest of the poorest of the poor.

At the time that our country is struggling economically, the poor who voted our political leaders into power are expecting high levels of ethical leadership. This includes taking visible steps to address the systemic issues behind the situation of the government at war with itself.

While nobody is above the law, we continue to support Mr. Gordhan and the treasury in their efforts to reform the treasury and state owned enterprises in the interests of clean governance.

 

Issued by SACBC Justice and Peace Commission