Tag: Frank Chikane

Democracy in crisis: South Africa ‘being taken over by crime syndicates’

BriberyFormer director-general in the Presidency and author of Eight Days in September, The Removal of Thabo Mbeki, Reverend Frank Chikane said last year that South Africa’s democracy is in crisis because of compromised leaders running the country to serve the interests of crime syndicates, reports The Sowetan.

Chikane said that some of these syndicates are employed within state security agencies by commanders and some work outside the system but have strong links with political leaders.

Speaking at his book launch seminar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg campus, Chikane also said that corruption levels in the country have increased since the days of Nelson Mandela as president and have worsened under the current leadership.

“If you read articles in the weekend newspapers about [head of police crime intelligence Lieutenant-General Richard] Mdluli, you can see that we are in trouble,” Chikane said.

He said while syndicates were taking over the country, some of the dirtiest people in the world were coming and hiding in South Africa.

Chikane, who focused more on the crisis and vulnerability of democracy during the seminar than his book, said there were people in government who served syndicates instead of the taxpayers.

“If you are compromised as a leader by a syndicate, then you are controlled by them,” he said.

The Reverend said these syndicates have people at the borders as well.

When cars are stolen in the country they easily make their way to other countries for sale, he said.

He said that in 1990 slain mining magnate Brett Kebble “bought a relationship with the ANC” through disgraced former top cop Jackie Selebi by donating money. He said that syndicates decided who was jailed, while others entered into plea bargains with the state.

“In the Kebble matter, murderers gave up their bosses who in turn gave up Glenn Agliotti who in turn gave up Selebi who is in jail now,” he said.

“There must be no person who commits crime and does not go to jail because he is connected.”

‘Black aspiration and white fear causing tension in South Africa’

Much patience is needed for South Africa to develop social cohesion, black church leader Reverend Frank Chikane said in Kliptown, Soweto on Thursday.

“We need to be ready to listen to each other,” he said during a report back from commissions at the national social cohesion summit.

“To build social cohesion and a common nation, a national identity is needed.”

Chikane, former director general in the presidency, was reporting back on the commission which dealt with prejudice and discrimination.

He said it was a difficult commission. High levels of sensitivity and humility were needed.

“We need to listen to each other… We must also listen when people speak in strange tongues.”

The two-day summit, organised by the department of arts and culture, broke up into five commissions on Thursday. Language was a recurring theme in each commission.

Wits University Professor Yunus Ballim, reporting back from the commission on economic inequalities, said South Africa needed to develop a shared discourse.

“Just to have the ability to greet each other in an African language or say goodbye in an African language.”

It was embarrassing that many people could not do that after 18-years of democracy.

Social historian Luli Callinicos said minority groups had done very little to try learn an African language.

“Our own culture is being undermined… We need to restore ubuntu,” she said. “Because this is something we can teach the rest of the world. We must be careful not to lose it.”

Callinicos was part of the commission on social interaction, co-operation and solidarity. Poverty and inequality added to the lack of social cohesion.

“Cohesion, if you are deprived, is going to be very difficult,” she said.

People in most of the commissions also called for a public dialogue and said the development of social cohesion started at a local level and needed to be ongoing.

Former ambassador to France and jazz legend Hugh Masekela’s sister Barbara Masekela said the relevance of the Constitution should not be set aside only for when needed but should be used in people’s daily lives.

This was part of the commission on national identity and unity.

Chikane said delegates questioned the Constitution.

“There were questions about the foundation of our new society in terms of the Constitution,” he said.

He said there were good structures and institutions but they were not doing enough to develop social cohesion.

Another commission on special divisions focused on the issue of land.

Leonard Martin, who reported back, said there was an urgent need for a land audit because of the persistent problem of “landlessness”.

He said land had caused great tension in South Africa. There was “black aspiration and white fear”.

He said the commission urged people to build a unified country.

“Build a South Africa that belongs to all.”

Martin said there needed to be robust and honest discussions about South Africa’s past. – Sapa