28 November 2006
The South African Communist Party is extremely concerned by the ongoing saga at the South African Post Office (SAPO). We therefore welcome the institution of an urgent inquiry by the Minister of Communications, and also support the call by the Communication Workers Union for a thorough enquiry.
Workers and the poor are usually the first victims in instances of corruption and/or destabilization, as they are the ones who pay the price for whatever problems are in companies. When there are problems affecting viability of companies, management turns to them for retrenchments, whilst they are the ones draining profits of companies through inefficiencies or corrupt activities. Equally it is the workers and the poor who become the first victims of lack of service delivery. To many workers and the poor, the SAPO remains one of the most important vehicles to communicate with their families.
In addition the SACP is extremely concerned about this instability in the SAPO since it also houses a very important institution, the Post Bank. Post Bank has the single largest number of banking outlets, extending into the deepest of rural areas thus making it possible for workers and the poor to access banking and other related services. For the SACP, the PostBank is a strategic institution in the overall struggle to make banks serve the people and in the transformation of the financial sector as a whole.
In making this statement, the SACP is not making any prejudgments about the existence of corruption or otherwise, but allegations that are being made in this regard are of serious concern to us. Corruption, accompanied by crass materialism, is increasingly becoming one of the most serious threats to the deepening and consolidation of our democracy. It is a scourge that must fought as a matter of strategic national priority, dealing with it swiftly wherever it raises its ugly head.
We therefore call for a swift but thorough enquiry into this whole debacle, in order to restore the stability and efficient operations into this strategic entity and for any irresponsible or corrupt behaviour to be dealt with decisively.
Issued by the: SACP
CONTACT:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson
Tel: 011 339 3621
Fax: 011 339 4244
Cell: 082 226 1802
Email: Malesela@sacp.org.za