State Capture and Beyond holds public meeting on accountability

The State Capture and Beyond Campaign held a public meeting on making accountability real at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) School of Tourism in the post-election period, featuring a screening of Rehad Desai’s 2019 documentary, How to Steal a Country.

The documentary delved into the Gupta family’s rise from flea market shoe salesmen to establishing a significant black-owned business empire in South Africa. It unfolds as a suspenseful detective story, uncovering numerous bribery scandals involving top political figures and well-known multinational corporations.

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Panellist Dr Ferrial Adam, executive director of WaterCan, explained that the documentary reminded her of the rampant thieving that went on and the fact we have to see the key minds and perpetrators behind it go to jail.

The film portrays interviews with journalists from Daily Maverick, showcasing their efforts to expose the Gupta family and Jacob Zuma, shedding light on the inner workings of state capture and their involvement in the Zondo Commission hearings.

State Capture and Beyond campaign also held a public meeting on ‘Making Accountability Real’ featuring speakers Dr Ferrial Adam, Siphiwe Zwane, Dr Trevor Ngwane, and Busiswe Seabe. During the meeting, attendees voiced concerns about the state of governance in South Africa, expressing a crisis in the representation of all South Africans.

Many highlighted the perception that political parties prioritise their own interests over those of the working classes, using manifestos for popularity rather than genuine representation. Rehad Desai, the filmmaker, explained that the motivation behind the documentary was to unravel the bizarre story of the Gupta family’s involvement in the development of late capitalism and the merging of private and public interests.

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He emphasised the need to understand the international collaboration required for such corruption, including the involvement of entities like Bell Pottinger. Desai credited investigative journalists for leading the way in mobilising citizens, citing their role in pressuring the ANC leadership to address the issues.

He stressed the urgent need for citizens to exercise their influence, build robust protests, and hold politicians accountable for fulfilling their promises. The documentary has not gone unnoticed, with the Zondo Commission who expressed interest on viewing it.

Ferrial placed emphasis on the outcome of the elections and how it highlights the fact that we have to build civil society voices and strengthen our involvement. “People cannot just vote and think that change will come from government –that is not going to happen. So we need to make participatory democracy a real thing in South Africa – it is going to be a huge challenge.”

She explains that elected officials need to remember that they are voted in by people and need to answer to the public. “So we need transparency and openness which is lacking. Also in general, elected officials forget that there is a role for the public to play and they need to make sure that they facilitate such.”

The State Capture and Beyond campaign align with Desai’s hope that the film will prompt citizens to stand for democracy, transparency, and accountability, emphasising the importance of active civic engagement and involvement in local governance.

The public meeting provided a platform for critical discussions on the state of governance in South Africa, highlighting the need for increased citizen participation, transparency, and accountability in the political landscape.

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