Vavi takes swipe at his comrades

Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi took on his comrades in the unions during the launch of the Corruption Watch initiative yesterday, saying they were not "paragons of virtue".

Without mentioning names, Vavi slammed those involved in the disappearance of R100-million of clothing and textile workers' pension funds and called for swift action.

Enoch Godogwana, who resigned as economic development deputy minister last week, is at the centre of a missing R100-million scandal.

Vavi yesterday spoke of the devastating impact of corruption on the lives of thousands and thousands of poor black South Africans.

"The revolving door between public representatives and business has normalised a picture of public representatives living in mansions behind high walls and electric fences while the surrounding townships they are supposed to serve reel under the misery of neo-liberalism, poverty and unemployment," he said.

"Workers' pension funds being gambled away, leaving some workers to retire with only a pittance. We must leave no stone unturned to bring those who squandered R100-million of clothing and textile workers' pension funds to justice."

David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch, said a website and an SMS hotline has been set up for members of the public wishing to blow the whistle on corruption to send their reports or experiences as victims.

The launch was also attended by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, who both commended the graft-fighting initiative.

Lewis said they had spoken to law and auditing firms to assist them to investigate any graft that is reported to them, and said cases that they cannot investigate would be referred to relevant law enforcement agencies equipped with the investigative capabilities.

He said no formal talks have been held with Radebe, but said they have spoken to agencies with appropriate legislative powers, including the Special Investigating Unit, for support.

In his address, Radebe said the fight against corruption should be as bold as the fight against apartheid.

He said corruption stole the fruits of the struggle, and that it must be declared an enemy.

"If we acknowledge that corruption is a way of life in South Africa, we have lost the battle," he said.

Madonsela called on society to support the initiative.

"Many other sectors of society can learn a lot from this because, as a country, we need a united front in a fight against corruption. Central to that to that front is citizen empowerment and active citizenship," she said.

The ANC yesterday welcomed the launch of Corruption Watch.

In a statement, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said: "The ANC has undertaken to ensure that government reviews its tendering systems by making them transparent in order to deal systematically with corruption and shoddy contractual work, where contractors who have delivered poor services will be blacklisted and forbidden from doing business with any government structure."