Ideal chance for Zuma to speak out on corruption

The Herald Editorial: President Jacob Zuma has an opportunity when he answers questions in the National Assembly this afternoon to take a decisive step against corruption and, more specifically, the iniquitous situation in which the politically connected are able to secure government contracts.

Zuma is to be asked about contracts secured by a company in Limpopo of which ANC Youth League president Julius Malema is part-owner for the construction of roads and bridges.

Given that the quality of workmanship of some of the buildings and roads was questionable as they have been washed away, he will also have an opportunity to speak out forcibly against the shoddy construction that has been the hallmark of many contracts, particularly in the field of housing where thousands of homes are having to be repaired or demolished and rebuilt.

Such is the arrogance of some within the ANC that a culture of entitlement has developed in terms of which they believe it is their right to obtain state contracts through their political connections and the ANC has quite bizarrely even defended Malema saying he is not an elected public representative and is entitled to have business interests. That indicates clearly that how he obtained the contracts is not an issue.

Zuma has an opportunity today to state categorically that new guidelines will be introduced to halt this culture of entitlement and to announce that rules with regard to both the involvement of politicians in seeking contracts from the state and the transparency of the tender process will be dramatically overhauled so taking a significant step in the fight against the systemic corruption that now exists. He should also announce measures that will result in contractors whose workmanship is sub-standard being blacklisted.

Such rules should bar politicians from tendering for contracts either directly or through surrogates and should require that the names of those who are successful should be published with full details of shareholding and the reasons why the tender was awarded to the specific company. Further, some mechanism must be found for an independent person not appointed by government to serve on tender committees.

So Zuma has a chance today to take a stand on corruption that will win him plaudits from the majority of people in this country. The question, however, given who the beneficiaries are, is whether he has the courage to do so.