"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot
survive treason from within."
With this warning from Roman philosopher Cicero, Independent Democrats leader
Patricia de Lille last night pummelled the ANC afresh with accusations of
corruption relating to the perennially controversial arms deal.
"The ANC has lost its integrity. And while many in government today are dirtying
their hands with corruption, the people will one day lose patience with those
who fail them and rubbish their trust," she said in a speech at the University
of the Witwatersrand.
In what many will view as the opening salvo in her party's campaign for next
year's general election, De Lille declared the "once proud liberation movement"
a morally bankrupt party whose handling of the arms deal saga has been
characterised by "denial, interference and the thwarting of efforts to launch an
independent and comprehensive investigation".
President Thabo Mbeki was not spared.
"Mbeki himself joined the fray by embarking on a long and painful journey of
denial, even pronouncing live on national television that there was no prima
facie evidence to suggest any corruption in the deal ...
"Because the ultimate responsibility for the (arms deal) rests with Mbeki ... we
must ask ourselves: what does he have to hide?" she
asks.
Mbeki, who initially denied that he met one of the German
(sic - French) arms manufacturers during the bidding process, has more
recently said he "does not recall" having met with them. This is despite former
SA ambassador to France, Barbara Masekela, admitting that she facilitated the
meeting.
On her first encounter with the so-called De Lille Dossier a document containing
allegations of corruption based on leaked information the ID leader said: "I was
shocked that in a few short years so many comrades could go from being involved
in the struggle to being criminals that had betrayed the trust of our people."
She also rubbishes recent suggestions that amnesty be offered to those guilty of
corruption in the arms deal, saying this initiative "coming from within the
ranks of the ANC" was a "desperate attempt" to save ANC president Jacob Zuma
from prosecution.
"Those responsible for arms deal corruption do not deserve any form of amnesty
because their actions were not about furthering a higher political cause, but
rather their own individual greed and the coffers of the ANC. Corruption is
criminal, not political," she said.
"In this instance they are crooks, not freedom fighters
and we cannot provide amnesty for criminal offences, whether or not they have
political consequences. If you commit a crime you must pay the price and the law
must run its course," De Lille added.
And in a sarcastic reference to recent public comments by Zuma that the laws of
the country must "bite" the ID leader warned: "Should amnesty be granted, I can
assure Mr Zuma that, in his own words, the anger of the voters will 'bite'."
De Lille called on the government and the ANC to appoint an independent judicial
commission of inquiry to show that they were determined "to come clean and root
out the corrupt individuals in their ranks".
Finally, De Lille called on the government to address the lack of regulations on
party political funding, saying the impact of this "wider problem" on democracy
"must not be underestimated".
Expressing scepticism at ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa's recent
undertaking to withdraw the party's fundraising company, Chancellor House, from
an empowerment deal with Eskom, De Lille said her party will continue to
scrutinise contracts relating to the state-owned utility's multi-billion rand
infrastructure programme.
"It is an extremely dangerous and worrying thought that
while the country suffers from the current electricity crisis ... the ANC would
have stood to benefit ...
"They create the problem, the rest of us pay for it and
they laugh all the way to the bank," said De Lille.
Presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga and ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte
did not respond to calls last night.
With acknowledgement to Deon de Lange and Cape Argus.