Cape Town - Civic organisation, Defend Our Democracy Campaign, are the latest to applaud the efforts made by whistleblower Athol Williams and Peter Hain in securing the ban on Bain&Co from conducting business with the UK government.
“In line with calls made by the Helen Suzman Foundation, we equally call on the South African government to implement similar measures to prevent Bain & Co from engaging in business with government and state-owned enterprises. We also call on the government to implement the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture (Zondo Commission), particularly the implementation of a blacklist to ban companies from using the state as its patron for mass profit,” the organisation said in a statement.
The Zondo Commission’s report into state capture found that Bain’s involvement with SA Revenue Service (Sars) was unlawful. Zondo had recommended that all Bain’s public sector contracts be investigated, with a view to prosecution.
UK Cabinet Office minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, earlier this month said: “After reviewing the Zondo Commission's findings detailing Bain’s role in alleged state capture and corruption by the former government of South Africa, I consider Bain to be guilty of grave professional misconduct.”
He then proceeded to ban the company from competing for government contracts for three years.
Bain had said it was disappointed and would consider their options to have the UK government’s decision reviewed.
Last week, Acting Director-General of Treasury Ismail Momoniat urged the private sector to cease doing business with Bain & Co.
Defend Our Democracy said: “We agree with the UK government’s assertion that the acts of Bain & Co were treasonous because their intentions to collapse the Sars resulted in significant harm to South Africa, our democracy and the ability of the state to collect sufficient revenue and provide for services. While we welcome that Bain & Co have since paid back monies unduly profited from their work at Sars, we believe that punitive measures must be put in place to correct their wrongs.
“We support calls made by the National Treasury Acting Director-General Ismail Momoniat, for private sector companies both locally and abroad to boycott business dealings with Bain & Co. We hope that all government ministries and ambassadors across the board will also heed the call to boycott Bain & Co. Equally, we must place similar pressure on banks and financial institutions implicated in the Zondo Commission to account for their role in state capture, and come correct.
"As we have seen through the Zondo Commission, whistleblowers have been pivotal in the fight against corruption. We hope that Athol Williams and other whistleblowers will receive the necessary protection and support for their sacrifice and fortitude.”
Cape Times