South African Council of Churches Calls for Dissolution of Parliament
Catholic News Service (CNS) || By Bronwen Dachs || 12 June 2017
Following its own findings of severe corruption in government, the South African Council of Churches called for the dissolving of parliament and new general elections.
The government « has lost its moral legitimacy » and new polls are needed, the South African Council of Churches said in a June 10 statement. The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is a member of the council, which met June 6-8 near Johannesburg.
In April 2016, the council set up an « unburdening panel » for anyone who had participated in or knew of corrupt activities. The report, based on that panel, reveals an elite group « that parcels out contracts and other opportunities for their circles against the interests of good governance and against the common good of the South African citizenry, » the statement said.
Members of parliament display « complete moral bankruptcy in the execution of their responsibilities in upholding the laws of the land, » it said.
General elections are needed « to secure a fresh mandate based on acceptable values and on integrity, » it said. South Africa’s next elections are due in 2019.
The country needs a national convention that includes a broad base of South Africans to find consensus on values and to work toward « the realization of the post-apartheid promise of South Africa, » which is « just, equitable, reconciled, peaceful » and free of corruption and deprivation, the churches said.
The council’s report on the panel’s findings noted that « South Africa may be just a few inches from the throes of a mafia state, from which there may be no return — a recipe for a failed state. »
The panel’s findings were presented at a May 18 council of churches meeting in Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Soweto.
Among those who approached the panel were local government staffers « who were pressured to divert funds inappropriately to certain activities that had nothing to do with the work and purpose of the budget, » the report said.
« There were people who were prevailed upon to rig tender process in favor of certain companies and individuals, or bend and tailor regulations for a specific desired outcome, » it said, noting that while most people opted to stay anonymous, some chose to go public.
« Some came forward only to share their experiences with no desire to be publicly revealed, but to clear their chests only, » it said.
« Others were ready to go public, and these we encouraged to go to the Public Protector (a state watchdog agency) and they did, » the report said, noting that these stories are in the Public Protector’s report released last November, which « has yet to be acted upon by the government. »