The Corruption Watch zero of the year for 2012 is our country’s first citizen, President Jacob Zuma. The hero award goes to the lady who uncovered several corrupt senior officials in his administration, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.
Corruption Watch asked readers on Wednesday to vote from a selection of eight contenders for each award, and placed the poll on Facebook.
With countless allegations of fraud and corruption against him, the recent and most damning perhaps being the security upgrade at his private residence in Nkandla, Zuma was our readers’ favourite, and was followed by Basic education Minister Angiwe Motshekga in that category. Let’s hope that 2013 is a better year for the President and that he makes the conscientious effort to change his “zero” status to a “hero” one.
On a positive note, Madonsela has been voted as the hero for 2012, in a category that also featured the late Moss Phakoe and civil society organisation Section 27. Madonsela has been responsible for investigating many cases of corruption within the public sector and has been promoting the existence of an active civil society community. We congratulate her for exposing officials who misuse public funds and furthering the means of a healthy democratic system by holding them accountable. We wish Madonsela and her team all the best for 2013 and we are assured that the excellent work will continue.
Corruption Watch would like to thank the public for voting for their favourite hero and zero of the year and we encourage you to blow the whistle on any corrupt acts, especially now during the festive season. We hope that 2013 will see more heroes than zeroes, so:
Take a stand!
