COSATU welcomes arrest of MEC

The Congress of South African Trade Unions congratulates the National Prosecuting Authority on their arrest of John Block - Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism, and ANC Provincial Chairperson - together with a Uruguayan businessman and eight others on charges of fraud, corruption, racketeering and money-laundering involving over R42 million.

We warmly welcome this clear sign that the state is now seriously pursuing those who have been implicated in allegations of corruption, and in particular the abuse of tender procedures.

It follows Pravin Gordhan's commitment that the government "will clamp down on crooks by introducing new public disclosure rules for all prospective government contracts and imposing stiff penalties on companies and individuals involved in tender corruption".

COSATU also applauds Richard Baloyi's plan to set up a special anti-corruption unit, which will investigate senior government officials with undeclared business interests in dealings with government, performing remunerative duties outside public service, soliciting bribes and receiving grants or benefits unlawfully.

The Minister of Public Service and Administration was absolutely right when he said that "Corruption is the single most threat to good governance; it has the propensity to collapse an economy".

Let us hope that the tide has now turned against the tenderpreneurs who have been looting the country's resources in order to enrich themselves.

COSATU will do everything it can to assist the government to investigate all allegations and bring offenders to justice.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, November 5 2010

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