COSATU welcomes the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry into the Arms Deal
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) warmly welcomes the President's appointment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the arms deal.
An investigation into the arms deal is crucial in demonstrating government's campaign against corruption. It is a sign of the government's commitment to fight corruption.
COSATU's 9th National Congress reaffirmed the call for a full and impartial investigation into the arms deal and nothing has transpired since then to make us change our minds.
We are convinced that there was a lot of corruption in the arms procurement process. The full facts about the arms deal must be exposed to the people of South Africa and the world. The innocent must be exonerated and the guilty punished, for enriching themselves at the expense of the people who put their trust in them.
COSATU is inspired by this decision and we hope that will witness similar progress in investigating the alleged corruption committed by Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Sicelo Shiceka. It is now just over five (5) months since newspapers published implicating reports regarding Shiceka's misuse of public funds for personal businesses and yet we have not witnessed any significant move to address our concerns.
The corruption allegations against the Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and the Public Works Minister, Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde also require the same attention.
The presidency has missed the deadline in terms of responding to the Public Protector's findings on the police lease agreements that implicate both Minister Mahlangu-Nkabinde and Police Commissioner Bheki Cele.
Even-handedness in dealing with corruption is absolutely essential if we are to restore the confidence of South Africans in the government. Public representatives who betray citizens' trust and utilize state resources to line their pockets must be brought to book.
Statement issued by Phindile Kunene, Shopsteward Editor, COSATU, September 15 2011
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