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The president of the National Assembly Thandi Modise and the president of the National Council of Provinces, Amos Masondo, in the parliamentary grounds the day before SONA 2020.
- The Presidents of Parliament have issued a strong statement to condemn Covid-19 corruption.
- They encouraged South Africans to comment on the three gender-based violence bills that are in Parliament.
- They also called on the nation to unite in its diversity, to build a prosperous South Africa.
Presiding parliament officials, National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise and Provincial National Council President Amos Masondo, said Covid-19’s “blatant” corruption goes against everything South Africa stands for as a nation. .
Modise and Masondo spoke in a joint statement to mark Heritage Day.
They said that September 24 was declared a holiday in recognition and celebration of our cultural richness and diversity as a nation.
“It is about celebrating the rich tapestry of South African people (whom the apartheid regime sought to divide and rule on the basis of race), with their different languages and cultures, human solidarity, human dignity, unity and unity. respect, among other things.
“It’s about looking at what unites us, what makes us stronger to withstand testing times, while building a truly non-racial, non-sexist, united and prosperous nation,” their statement reads.
Modise and Masondo said that, through unity of purpose, partnerships and synergies, the country had prevailed against Covid-19.
“As the battle continues, we pay tribute to all front-line workers, at the center of our fight against the pandemic, for their courage, their noble altruism.”
Modise and Masondo said that rebuilding the economy after Covid-19 would require all South Africans to harness what they should consider their common heritage, the spirit of Ubuntu, by ensuring a united front to address socio-economic difficulties.
“Unfortunately, as the nation is battling this unprecedented challenge, some individuals and businesses have unscrupulously tried to profit from this devastating crisis by misappropriating funds intended to save lives, particularly those of the poor,” they said.
“Such blatant disregard for the sanctity of life and greed runs counter to everything we should stand up for as a nation, particularly during a crisis of this magnitude.”
‘Laws alone are not enough’
“We strongly condemn such rampant acts of corruption and urge the criminal justice system to leave no stone unturned to bring justice, particularly to the poorest of the poor.”
Modise and Masondo called on South Africans to mark Heritage Day by re-committing themselves to eradicating the evils of society.
“These include the violence that continues to cast a blanket of fear on the people of our beautiful land, our women and children in particular.”
They said they were encouraged by the commitment of law enforcement agencies to act against the perpetrators, and are confident that this would happen quickly.
They encouraged South Africans to make representations on the three gender-based violence (GBV) bills currently in Parliament.
“But the laws, by themselves, are not enough,” said the presidents.
“As we continue to work together to mitigate the economic and health effects of Covid-19, let us also work together to change the environment that allows corruption, violence and other social ills to flourish.
“We must become guardians of each other, taking care of each other, without looking away.
“United in our diversity, let us build that prosperous South Africa, in which the quality of life for all is improved and the potential of each person is unleashed.
“We owe it to ourselves, to those who sacrificed so much to achieve our democracy, and to the generations that will follow.”
– Compiled by Jan Gerber
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