Johannesburg, 20 September 2018 – State capture needs to be dealt with urgently to restore public confidence in the State, the constitutional framework and the rule of law. This is the view of Council for Advancement of the South African Constitution Executive Secretary Lawson Naidoo.
Speaking on the first day of the two-day Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba taking place at the IDC Conference Centre, Mr Naidoo said to end or contain the cancer of public corruption and corporate malfeasance in South Africa, the country needs a fit for purpose anti-corruption agency focused on enforcement, prevention and education. The agency would be buttressed by a strong political will.
Speaking on the same panel, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse Executive Director Wayne Duvenage said state capture was a serious matter which had allowed creative accounting to take place, unchallenged, at State-owned entities.
He called upon the audit industry to review its code and board members of State-owned entities and the business community at large to play a bigger role in combating corruption.
“Business is missing in action. We hear business leaders saying Government is not taking them seriously enough but I think we need to see the business community stand up more often. Business needs to stand firm and strong in the fight against public corruption and corporate malfeasance,” Mr Duvenage said.
He also said that the country needed new board members and Director Generals in Governments to investigate and challenge all past contracts; drive new energy throughout Government and business for moral courage and strong anti-corruption values.
In conclusion, Mr Duvenage said a stronger civil society that actively challenges wrongdoing and holds Government to account was also needed.
Issued by:
Ollie Madlala
Communications Manager
Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725
Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.meindaba. seifsa.co.za