Greedy politicians loot government coffers
2011-02-12 14:26
Rustenburg - A political report tabled at the provincial ANC conference of the North West has painted the province as being run by greedy politicians looting government coffers.
Tabling the report at the conference in Rustenburg the convenor of the provincial task team Martin Sebakwane said state machinery was held hostage and captured by one group at provincial level and another group at local government level.
"State resources were directed to municipal wards which had councillors who were part of the factions," he said, adding that councillors who were not part of the factions were not allocated service delivery projects in their wards.
He said budgeted funds were paid out fraudulently and distributed to leader of factions.
"Such funds were used to strengthen their function by buying in more loyal foot soldiers to further dislocate and paralyse the state machinery as well as the machinery of the ANC in the province."
Protests
Sebakwane said this led to lack of service delivery and triggered frustrated and depressed communities to go into service delivery protests.
The report further indicated that money was preferred over political ideology.
Sebakwane said conferences were reduced to political stock exchanges where those with money could choose their preferred leaders whether they were inside or outside the ANC.
He said seats were created with various prices with the top five being the most expensive followed by the additional members seats.
Sebakwane said those with money were not concerned with the quality of the leadership but were interested in investing in pawns they could handle to maximise return on their investment through access to financial opportunities in government.
"Once their pawns have become ANC decision-makers they direct the work of government into the hands of their masters."
He said there had been a tendency where people were going around carrying refuse bags full of money looking for delegates to vote for their preferred candidates.
- SAPA
