SANCO supports state capture probe

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) on Tuesday declared its support for an investigation into allegations of state capture.

“We commend the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) for the bold stance it has taken against those who sought to intimidate into silence those who are raising the serious allegations and for encouraging those with information to come forward,” SANCO national spokesperson Jabu Mahlagu said.

Mahlangu said that the way forward had to distinguish which issues needed to be investigated by the state and which ones by the party to ensure that the lines between party and state were not blurred.

“Speedy and decisive action will restore the credibility of the state which has taken a serious knock from the allegations. A prolonged process will not be in the interest of good governance and South Africa’s image,” he stressed.

He cautioned against disinformation by political opponents and said the law should deal with “opportunistic noise makers and habitual howlers who are raising unsubstantiated allegations to muddy the waters, like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Deputy President,Floyd Shivambu”.

“Disinformation is a serious threat to economic recovery as well as financial and political stability,” Mahlangu added.

The ANC had announced a probe into the existence of state capture following claims by current and former senior ANC members that they were inappropriately approached by the Gupta family.

Following the weekend’s meeting of the ANC national executive committee, the party’s secretary general Gwede Mantashe called on people who have experienced inappropriate advances by the Guptas to blow the whistle, and in turn the party would protect them.

Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas dropped a bombshell last week by confirming reports that the Gupta family had approached him to take over as finance minister a few days before President Jacob Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene from the post in December.

During the same week, former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor said the Indian family had offered her the post of public enterprises minister. Mentor claimed they wanted her to drop the South African Airways route to India so that a Gupta-linked airline could a take over the route.

And on Sunday, the Sunday Times reported that former Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) CEO Themba Maseko had directly implicated Zuma in a push to give government business to the Gupta family.

Both Zuma and the Gupta family have denied the allegations, with the latter on Tuesday welcoming the announcement of a probe into the issue of state capture.

(File photo: Gallo Images)