POLITICS

Why are you associating with people who bribe journalists? - ANCYL

Youth League expresses disappointment at COSATU leadership

THE ANC YOUTH LEAGUE IS DISAPPOINTED BY COSATU LEADERSHIP'S ASSOCIATION WITH PEOPLE WHO BRIBE JOURNALISTS:

The African National Congress Youth League condemns the Journalist bribery incident by people who are associated with COSATU Unions and clearly defending COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi and his wife from exposure on conflicts of interests and questionable business dealings (see report).  The bribery incident as exposed by the Mail & Guardian on the 1st of April 2010 reveals a possible reality that some leaders in the alliance act holier than thou, whilst hunting with the hounds and running with the hare. The ANC Youth League is disappointed because COSATU General Secretary has been alleging for a long time now that there are corrupt people in the ANC leadership, whilst the possibly corrupt people are the ones who work with his wife and are ready to bribe Journalists in order to hide questionable business dealings and interests.

In more than one occasion, the Youth League has asked COSATU leadership to name and expose people it alleges are corrupt in the leadership and membership of the ANC or anywhere in society and there has been silence, which we continue to characterise as cowardice. The exposition by the Mail&Guardian also reveals what we have been saying that bribery of Journalists happens in South Africa, and we applaud the Journalist of the Mail&Guardian who has refused to be bribed. This Journalist should be a an example to other Journalists who continue to report unethically and take bribes in order to distort stories and reports about the leadership of the ANC.

The ANC Youth League stands by the principle that all corrupt practices, including those that are committed through spousal fronting should be exposed. We hope that COSATU leadership will act decisively on this issue and make sure that the integrity of the workers federation is not tainted.

Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, April 1 2010

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