EDITORIAL: For once, let's all fight corruption

For a long time now, corruption in general, and within regional and local councils in particular, has been allowed to flourish like sunflowers in a sewage pond.



Councillors, like birds of the sky, have feasted on the seeds without fear or shame.



Now that we have someone, regardless of their background and intentions, fighting the endemic theft of public assets, issues have arisen.



Urban development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa is not an angel.



And LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi is correct to point this out. But don't they say to catch a thief, you must send a thief? Not that Sankwasa is a thief, though.

Does the law allow Sankwasa to call for an end to the unruliness within regional and local councils? To an extent, yes. Section 92 of the Local Authorities Act, 1992 (Act No. 23 of 1992) is the primary legal basis in the Act that grants the minister the authority to exert control over a local authority, including taking over its functions and suspending or removing councillors when the council fails to meet its obligations.

The Regional Councils Act, 1992 (Act No. 22 of 1992) grants the minister several key powers over regional councils and councillors. These powers relate to appointment, removal, oversight and general supervision.

Although the minister does not have unilateral executive power over local councils by constitutional design, they exercise their powers through statutes passed by parliament, grounded in Articles 102 and 108, and governed by ministerial accountability per Article 41.

The point remains: there is corruption, and someone must root it out. Sankwasa may be 'not-so-perfect', but can he uproot the sunflowers blooming in the sewage pond?

For once, let us all fight corruption – regardless.