Statement: R2K supports the call to make the NLC beneficiary list public!
The Right2Know Campaign fully supports and commends GroundUp for their amazing reporting and exposure of corruption by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
On Tuesday, GroundUp will be in court, opposing a case brought by a dubious organisation called “UNITED CIVIL SOCIETY IN ACTION’ (‘UCSA’). This outfit, which is evidently under the banner of the South Africa National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) and various other unnamed organisations, is taking GroundUp’ to court for exposing corruption, under the guise of a confidentiality argument about “publishing of NLC beneficiary details”.
This so-called “civil society movement” surfaced after GroundUp published a series of articles exposing corruption by the NLC related to the improper and fraudulent disbursement and use of funds as well as conflicts of interest surrounding monies meant for the upgrading of sanitation facilities at poor schools in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. These allegations also implicated the Chief Operating Officer of the NLC, Mr Philemon Letwaba who took leave of absence shortly after these articles were published.
Now, this ‘UCSA’ is trying to stop both GroundUp and the NLC from publishing any content related to NLC grant beneficiaries despite the fact that Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel (who has instituted an official investigation) believes the names of organisations funded by the NLC should be made public.
Why the secrecy?
As R2K we view this court action as nothing but an attempt by those who are behind the ‘UCSA’ to shield Letwaba who also sued GroundUp for R600,000 last year and demanded the removal of six GroundUp articles related to the NLC corruption. Media houses like GroundUp play a critical role in promoting transparency, accountability and freedom of expression which is vital to a democracy that meets the needs of its people. We cannot allow shady organisations like the ‘UCSA’ to attack those in the media who are actually doing their jobs, investigating and exposing corruption to the very public to whom the NLC itself is ultimately accountable. We call on South Africans to be vigilant and defend media freedom.
We reiterate our call to the DTI to ensure that NLC grant beneficiaries information is released publicly and that all those implicated in any wrongdoing face the consequences of their actions. We have the right to know.
We cannot afford to remain silent while ordinary South Africans are suffering because resources meant to improve their everyday lives are channelled elsewhere by corrupt individuals and compromised organisations. It’s critical that they are held accountable for their corrupt actions. They must not operate with impunity.
The court case is scheduled for hearing in the Pretoria High Court by video tomorrow, the 7th of July 2020.
Stand up to the abuse of power!
Phantsi nge Corruption!
Ongazi Makazi!
For more information contact:
Ghalib Galant, R2K Deputy National Coordinator: 084 959 1912
Thabo Maile, R2K NWG Member: 078 119 4257
