Manuel wants zero tolerance on graft

2011-01-30 23:40

Johannesburg - National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel on Sunday urged members of the African National Congress (ANC) and its government not to tolerate corruption and to remember the reason the ruling party was in power.

Speaking at the memorial service of his fellow struggle stalwart, Johnny Issel, Manuel said the ruling party was carrying itself as if it had forgotten the purpose of why it was governing.

"We allow what use to keep us together [during the struggle] to let people do as they please," Manuel told the memorial in Crosby in Johannesburg.

"We should not tolerate corruption, it is wrong, it is stealing from the poor."

He said in several conversations he had with the late Issel, the struggle veteran had indicated that government was "soft on corruption".

He said death of his colleague was a wake-up call to the ANC not o become complacent.

Struggle continues

"I am pleading that we take forward the spirit of the life of Johnny Issel. The struggle continues."

President Jacob Zuma's former chief operations officer in the presidency, Jessie Duarte also called for members of the ruling party to restore its glory days.

"The time has come to understand that we cannot marginalise people and expect them not to react. Time has come for activists to go back to the ground and go to the people and find out their problems." she said.

"If you went to sleep last 10 years ago and you think because of your job you can't speak out, please go back to the branches. Go back to the ANC."

Fellow United Democratic Front (UDF) activist and SAA chair, Cheryl Carolus, also told members of the ruling party to "bring the ANC back home".

UDF founder

The memorial service was attended by current and former leaders in government including Duarte, Reverend Frank Chikane, Ahmed Kathrada, Sydney Mufamadi, Mac Maharaj, and Frene Ginwala.

Issel was a key figure in the struggle against apartheid and one of the founders of the UDF when the ANC was banned.

He teamed up with Manuel and Allan Boesak in the mobilisation of the masses against apartheid.

He also played a leading role in the formation of ANC branches in the Western Cape after the unbanning of the party.

After the first democratic elections in 1994, he became a member of the Western Cape Legislature and served until 1997.

- SAPA