Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan referred questions by the United National Transport Union (UNTU) about the delay in arresting and prosecuting those responsible for the loss of billions in state-owned enterprises due to state capture to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“I am not responsible for prosecutions. The head of the NPA should respond to that. The reality is that the NPA and the Hawks (priority crime unit of the South African Police Service) was also captured and victims of state capture.
“Good people were forced to leave the NPA and the Hawks and both are now rebuilding their capacity,” Gordhan told the Leadership Conference of the Federation of Trade Unions in South Africa (FEDUSA).
Sonja Carstens, Media, Liaison and Communication Officer of UNTU, asked Gordhan about the lack of prosecutions after the Minister told FEDUSA’s Conference on 29 January 2019 that “prosecution of corrupt employees of state-owned enterprises was eminent.”
UNTU, the majority union in Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), is affiliated to FEDUSA.
In January 2019 Gordhan said corrupt officials would be “in the dock” within months and if found guilty, “walking around in orange clothing.”
Carstens told the Minister how frustrated UNTU was because workers continue to face the consequences of state capture, yet justice is not seen despite the evidence over the past year in front of the Zondo Commission into State Capture which implicated several individuals.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Carstens told Gordhan. The Minister agreed and said he had also hoped to have seen prosecutions by now.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says the leadership of UNTU and of FEDUSA will now make an appointment with Advocate Shamila Batohi, National Director of Public Prosecutions, for her to explain why prosecutions have not yet commenced.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, UNTU Media, Liaison and Communication Officer. For UNTU press statements e-mail Carstens at sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6808.
