The arrest of multiple people in connection with fraud, money laundering, and corruption in the country has been applauded by the Cabinet.
Former high-ranking state and parastatal personnel are among them, with some facing charges related to the Public Finance Management Act.
Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said the arrests “give testament to the reality that no one is above the law and that there is no space for dishonest individuals in the public sector” during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.
A Home Affairs official at Pretoria’s Desmond Tutu Refugee Reception Centre, who reportedly received a bribe from a foreign national, is among those arrested.
Cabinet, he added, was pleased with the progress achieved in the extradition of the Gupta brothers, Rajesh and Atul, to South Africa.
The two were apprehended last week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after Interpol issued red alerts.
In South Africa, the brothers are wanted for their alleged role in state capture, including fraud and money laundering.
According to Gungubele, talks between law enforcement agencies in the UAE and South Africa on their extradition are in the works.
“Their arrest exemplifies the government’s unwavering commitment to combating crime and corruption without fear or favor.
“These arrests show that processes and methods are effective in holding culprits accountable for their horrible crimes and ensuring that no one is above the law,” he said.
The Cabinet denounces harmful damage.
Cabinet also criticized the brazen attempt to harm the country’s economy following the malicious damage to a cable at Eskom’s Matla Power Station in Mpumalanga during the meeting.
“This was the fourth incident of suspected sabotage at a power station in the last few weeks,” he added, adding that similar occurrences had been recorded at three other power plants.
“Recent crime numbers show that we as a society must do more to keep our neighborhoods safer. This fact reminds us that crime reduction is a societal obligation, and that all of us – including the police, political leaders, communities, families, company owners, workers, and civil society – must play a role in combating crime.”
He expressed confidence that the increased monies prioritized by the Ministry of Police for a number of police stations with a high number of murders, rapes, and other violent crime will help turn the tide and make communities safer for all.