Accountability, not impunity: We are putting up Wanted posters!
Accountability, not impunity. That’s been our rallying call over this past month. It’s part of our effort to bring accountability for state capture conspirators.
We are putting up Wanted posters!
Exactly a month ago, we released our latest investigative report, “Wanted: The State Capture Conspirators”. Over the past 18 months, our team has been hard at work identifying urgent cases that we can act on now! We identified the fixers, looters and politicians who enabled capture and corruption at PRASA, SAA, Denel and SARS and demand: Accountability Now!
“We are trying to say it is for law enforcement agencies to take these cases forward,” said our investigator, Ra’eesa Pather, speaking to Fin24.
Our Head of Investigations, Michael Marchant, spoke to the SABC’s Morning Live. He explained that there is strong enough evidence for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to move on at least 30 cases identified in the four State Owned Entities we looked at in this report.
We must ensure that there is real accountability to prevent the future capture of the state.
“Amnesty is problematic because of the absence of genuine accountability. We run the risk of recurrence of the same crimes,” said Marchant.
Over the coming months, our #NPAStartHere social media campaign will show that these crimes are not faceless. The conspirators are known; they include constitutional delinquent and convicted criminal, former President Jacob Zuma and criminals like fraudster Daniel Mthimkhulu and Dudu Myeni, and big corporations and wealthy business people who have all thus far evaded accountability
Over the coming months, our #NPAStartHere social media campaign will show that these crimes are not faceless. The conspirators are known; they include constitutional delinquent and convicted criminal, former President Jacob Zuma and criminals like fraudster Daniel Mthimkhulu and Dudu Myeni, and big corporations and wealthy business people who have all thus far evaded accountability.
“Sadly, justice will take time — but there is some low-hanging fruit that the NPA can pluck to begin the process of accountability,” wrote Natasha Marrian for the Financial Mail cover story on this report.
So, what happens now, you ask? We have submitted the report to public bodies that provide oversight, work in law enforcement or have a duty to ensure the state seeks accountability. They are the portfolio committees for Justice, Police, Transport, Public Enterprise and Public Accounts in parliament. We have also brought our investigation to the attention of the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner at SARS and various political parties represented in parliament. These are all important public institutions that can realise accountability for State Capture.
We will continue to press for accountability, working with our partners in civil society!
More legal muscle at Open Secrets: Hermione Cronje, a lawyer of integrity, joins our team
In case you missed the updates on our website, Adv Hermione Cronje, has joined Open Secrets, on a part-time basis, as of 01 June 2022. Hermione heads our small Open Secrets Legal Unit (OSSLU). She is a lawyer of integrity who brings a wealth of experience in accountability as a former top prosecutor. Hermione has been a friend to Open Secrets since 2016 when she provided pro bono support in our effort to expose the Apartheid government sanctions busting.
Hermione leads a team of Open Secrets attorneys. Her work is focused on ensuring accountability for international grave crime, specifically private sector profiteering from the crimes of apartheid, war and genocide while providing input on other legal matters.
“I am very excited to be joining such a youthful and energetic team, committed to ending impunity for economic crimes,” said Adv. Cronje. I particularly appreciate the rigour with which Open Secrets approaches its work in the public domain and the fearlessness and independence it displays in its efforts to hold the powerful accountable. I expect to learn as much from the time as I hope to contribute to the work.
If you think this work is important, help us continue to hold private and public actors accountable by becoming an Open Secrets supporter today!
Phantsi with impunity and phezulu with accountability!
Best,
Hennie
Open Secrets Director
