17 January 2020

We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, endorse the statement released yesterday by a group of ANC stalwarts and veterans expressing dismay at the attacks levelled at Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan.

We call on other organisations and stalwarts of the liberation movement to similarly express support for the statement.

Entitled Eskom and the assault on the President: An end game, the statement indicates that the onslaught against Gordhan is, in essence, directed at President Cyril Ramaphosa. These attacks are being driven by proponents of the state capture ‘fightback’, and are a designed to ultimately “bring about the removal of a President committed to rehabilitating the country’s institutions and eliminating corruption”.

It highlights that the crises at numerous SOEs, particularly Eskom, cannot be attributed to Minister Gordhan, but to years of looting and mismanagement at these institutions, perpetuated, supported or covered up by many of those now calling for Gordhan’s removal.

The statement raises concern over the impractical call that Eskom be transferred to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy at a time of institutional instability.

The group of veterans have articulated what is behind the sustained attacks against Minister Gordhan and what is at stake for the country.

Minister Gordhan continues to serve as a bulwark against corruption and looting. If the President succumbs to pressure to remove him from office, he will be giving in to those who don’t want state capture to come to an end and who don’t want to see reform. This will ultimately destroy what little institutional functionality exists at key SOEs.

We implore the President, those who stand against state capture within the ruling party, and all political and labour formations, to not accede to the demands of those hell-bent on continuing the state capture project, and who wish to manipulate Eskom’s crises to serve their narrow political and self-interests.

We further call on President Ramaphosa and Parliament to not give in to threats by the EFF to disrupt the State of the Nation address should Minister Gordhan remain in office.

The veterans’ statement refers to a ‘convergence’ or ‘unity’ of individuals and organisations, who ultimately want to derail President Ramaphosa’s attempts to rebuild the state. Given the media exposés about the alleged involvement of some within the EFF around, for instance, the VBS scandal, it is unsurprising that they have found common cause with proponents of the state capture project within the ANC.

We urge business, civil society and all South Africans to continue resisting what is clearly a renewed wave of attack by networks leading the state capture ‘fightback’.

We will not allow the gains that we have collectively made in defeating state capture over the last few years to be undone.

Endorsed by the following organisations and individuals:

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

Alipur Muslim Association

Association of Muslim Schools

Business Leadership South Africa

Centre for Strategic Management of Critical Leadership

Congress of Business and Economics

Group of victims of State Capture at the South African Revenue Service

Gujarati Network of South Africa

Johannesburg Against Injustice

Jiss Foundation NPC

Johannesburg Institute of Social Services

Legal Resources Centre

Movement for Universal Justice

Merebank Justice Network

Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse

Patriotic Movement

South African Leadership Initiative

Teddy Bear Foundation

Training, Education and Management (TEAM)

Via Christi Community Church

Abdul Bham

Abdulhay Jassat

Catherine Hunter Shubane

Claire Bless

Dr Essop Jassat

Dr Len Konar

Dr Henry Sammy Wanyama

Father Michael Lapsley

Guru Jay Naidoo

Harlene Jassat

Ismail Coovadia

Joy Coplan

John GI Clarke

Kehla Shubane

Loretta Jacobus 

Mohammad Timol

Mosie Moolla

Murthie Naidoo

Nazir Alli

Nozipho January-Bardill

Ntsikelelo Khwezi

Omar Badsha

Peter AC Hendrickse

Prema Naidoo

Professor Nick Binedell

Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim

Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim

Ramnie Dinat

Shaeera Kalla

Shamrita Bhikha

Shauket Fakie

Sol Cowan

Solly Mapaila

Stephanie Kemp

Sunny Singh

__________

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