NADEL WELCOMES THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL AS PART OF A NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORT
The National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL) welcomes the decision of President Cyril Ramaphosa for the creation of a Special Tribunal. The purpose of the Special Tribunal is to advance the quick recovery of state money and assets that were embezzled through corrupt deals and irregular spending by state institutions.
The tribunal is appointed for a period of three (3) years. Judge G.M. Makhanya is appointed as the President of the tribunal. Judge K. Pillay, Judge J. Eksteen, Judge S.P. Mothle, Judge L. Modiba, Judge D. Van Zyl and Judge S. Desai have been appointed to serve in the tribunal.
The tribunal is made up of senior members of the judiciary who have been entrusted with the duty to also adjudicate any civil proceedings brought to it by the Special Investigating Unit(SIU) either in its own name, by the state or by any other interested party.
The decision comes at a time when NADEL is preparing for its Annual General Meeting and Policy Conference under the theme: “Poverty, Inequalities and Corruption, Symptoms of a State in Gradual Collapse”. It is imperative that all leading organisations within South African society address the current conditions in South Africa that have given rise to a state caught in the grips of corruption. The discourse is vital at this crucial time if we are to salvage the state from further corruption.
Corruption compromises the functioning of the state and its organs. The Chairperson of Transparency International when describing corruption in Africa stated that: “Corruption creates an increases poverty and exclusion. While corrupt individuals with political power enjoy a lavish life, millions of Africans are deprived of their basic needs like food, health, education, housing access to clean water and sanitation.” It is the poor who are the hardest hit, when state resources that should go into service delivery and state programmes are wasted on private wealth accumulation by corrupt individuals.
The Special Tribunal to us, is an affirmation by the government of its commitment to deal with corruption head on. Punishing corruption is an indispensable part of any anti-corruption effort. NADEL affirms its commitment to fighting corruption and its commitment to democracy and respect for the rule of law in South Africa. NADEL calls on all stakeholders in society to make the same undertaking by participating in the national discourse and making every effort to fight the monster of corruption that threatens the integrity of our state.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS (NADEL), SOUTH AFRICA.
Issued by Ugeshnee Naicker
Office of the National Secretariat
NADEL National Deputy Secretary
0720222180
28 February 2018
