OUR main story yesterday about the R16-million of taxpayers' money paid to tenderpreneurs who built only one RDP house instead of 700 units is a reflection of the depth of corruption in this country.
It is well and good that President Jacob Zuma has authorised the Special Investigating Unit to probe this and other shoddy housing deals around the country.
It is also well and good that Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale appears to mean business when he says he wants to root out corruption.
South Africa's entire anti-corruption legislative machinery is well advanced and comprehensive enough to nail those who defraud the taxpayers of hard-earned cash.
The Prevention of Corrupt Activities Act is among the most comprehensive pieces of legislation then president Thabo Mbeki signed while in office. This legislation seeks to punish corrupters and corrupted with minimum sentences of 15 years in jail.
Another piece of legislation Mbeki signed was the Public Finance Management Act. It details how public funds should be used, including expenditure on tenders. It also makes it an offence to spend public money as though it was withdrawn from someone's account.
So, what we have are sound laws well suited to deal with the rotten apples in our society.
The problem, though, is that the law can work up to a certain point. Something more needs to be done to stop the scourge of corruption from eating the very little that is left of our diminishing moral fibre.
Quite often political will is there, but not sufficient nor consistent. Some of our political leaders are not exemplary enough to inspire confidence in the fight against corruption.
While they point fingers at others, the accused correctly warn their accusers to watch the direction of the other three fingers.
What this means is that if the comprehensive anti-corruption legislation has to be useful, it has to apply comprehensively. Now, with regard to the payment of R16-million for one RDP house in Taung, North West, the SIU and Sexwale's department need to go deeper to establish who benefitted from this deal.
Is it the directors of the construction company who have since been arrested by the Hawks? With whom in the municipality or in the province did they connive to deprive community members of their constitutional right to shelter?
While the law must take its course in this matter, it must apply to all those involved.
Perhaps we can begin to see some tangible results.
- Sowetan
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