Public protector, Thuli Madonsela, has come through with the goods yet again. This time, they come in the form of three damning reports that expose gross misconduct, deceit, unlawful acts and outright corruption at the highest level of government.

The reports into President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Pettersson and former communications minister Dina Pule reveal the extent to which cabinet ministers use their officials to make sure their cronies land lucrative state-funded deals, often at inflated prices.

She also revealed some more of the usual ANC corruption vibes, like obtaining improper personal benefits, including luxury upgrades to personal residences or free overseas holidays with their lovers – all at taxpayers’ expense.

The report further says:

• Zuma should be sanctioned for failing to protect state resources;
• The state paid for an amphitheatre, swimming pool, visitors’ centre, cattle kraal and a chicken coop at Nkandla;
• The state built rondavels for Zuma’s relatives

In her investigation into Joemat-Pettersson, entitled “My Way or No Sea Patrols” Madonsela found evidence of collusive tendering, in a fishy awarding of an R800-million tender two years ago to Sekunjalo Marine Services Consortium.

The report on Dina Pule found that she laundered  a R6-million gift of taxpayers’ money to her boyfriend, Phosane Mngqibisa, by providing an unasked-for R10-million departmental sponsorship for the ICT Indaba in Cape Town last year.

Pule also got her department to pick up Mngqibisa’s tab for lavish overseas trips, knowing he was not entitled to such perks. All the while denying that she and Mngqibisa were even involved with each other.

These are the people we chose to govern us.

[Source : Times Live]