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The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Justice and Peace Commission states that it has taken note of the judgement of the Supreme Court of Appeal on the matter involving the President, the National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) and the Democratic Alliance, and issues the following comment and challenge:
“The court battle on the Spygate and corresponding corruption allegations against the President have been going on for more than eight years. If the National Prosecutions Authority decides to reinstate corruption charges against the President, the matter will probably continue for another four years.
“When allegations of corruption hang over the head of a sitting President for this long, something gives way. In our case, the moral fibre of our nation has suffered massive damage as a result of people losing confidence in the Office of the President and its ability to fight corruption at all levels of government. For eight years we have not had a President who leads from the front in the fight against corruption.
“As Church leaders, we are not experts in constitutional law. However, considering the damage that protracted corruption cases are inflicting on the moral fibre of our nation, we urge constitutional experts and the Law Reform Commission to guide the nation on the feasibility of establishing an Anti-Corruption Court, with specialised prosecutors, that would ensure speedy and efficient addressing and disposal of corruption cases and financial crimes.
“We would also like to challenge Mr Ramaphosa, Dr Dlamini-Zuma and other ANC presidential candidates to publicly declare that they will push for the establishment of a specialised Anti-Corruption Court if they are elected ANC President. This will signal their seriousness in the fight against political corruption.”
Issued by SACBC Justice and Peace Commission
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