Do you trust the ANC government?
You’re a fool if you do.
The ANC doesn’t even trust the ANC.
What you CAN trust in, is that the ruling party WILL let you down when you need them most - like during a global health crisis.
That much is true, we can now say with certainty, after the numerous corruption scandals and looting of millions in funding meant to help South Africa deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Fellow South Africans” will yet again feel betrayed, disillusioned and robbed after - in hindsight - foolishly believing Cyril Ramaphosa and his administration could be entrusted with guiding us through this national disaster.
And we did. We stood by the president and his lockdown plan, we sacrificed and kept faith that government would lead us to safety.
We cheered as Ramaphosa announced a R500 billion economic and social support package.
That’s not a kakhuis vol geld. That’s 500 kakhuise vol geld!
The bigwigs had pulled a few strings, wheeled and deal’ed with the National Development Bank, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund and... ka-ching!
Friends in high places, ne? How kwaai was that.
R100bn would go to the protection and creation of jobs.
Another R50bn was set aside for social grants, which would be increased for six months, and the unemployed could apply for a special R350 monthly payment.
Billions more would go to frontline healthcare, Covid-19 facilities and personal protective equipment (PPE).
And hundreds of thousands of food parcels would be distributed around the country.
We were covered for Covid. Uitgesort.
Remember all of this? This was before the other virus struck: corruption.
Stealing and misuse of funds, food parcels intercepted, overpriced services and dodgy tenders.
Shocking, but not surprising really.
Nor was Ramaphosa’s response.
“We are determined that every instance of alleged corruption must be thoroughly investigated, that those responsible for wrongdoing should be prosecuted and that all monies stolen or overpriced are recovered,” he vowed on 23 July.
He even signed a proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate any allegation of corruption in the state.
The Financial Intelligence Centre, Independent Police Investigative Directorate, National Prosecuting Authority, Hawks, Crime Intelligence, SAPS’ detective service, South African Revenue Service and State Security Agency would all join the war on corruption.
Well, the SIU didn’t have to look too far for dodgy deals.
And they somehow missed one of the most-high profile cases, right under the president’s nose.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko and Gauteng Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku got caught out and are being investigated for their roles in an alleged irregular PPE tender worth R125 million.
The tender was awarded to Royal Bhaca Project - a company owned by Diko’s husband.
But instead of being suspended, fired or even arrested, both Diko and Masuku have taken “leave of absence”.
Nice, ne? What a joke!
That, right there, is the problem. They’re untouchable, the lot of them.
They’re allowed to continue to vriet millions, while the masses beg for food parcels.
The fact remains, for all Ramaphosa’s warnings and promises, not ONE politician has been arrested for corruption in his almost three years in office - despite serious allegations dogging members of his top brass.
And until the president shows he has the balls to stop corruption - by prosecuting and convicting the skelms - how do we believe anything the ruling party says?
How do we continue to trust them with our tax money and our health?
How do we vote for them?