Residents call on government to account for missing Covid-19 funding
The organiser, Pops Rampersad, said they are willing to intensify their campaign until those responsible are charged.
A MOVEMENT that is calling on government to account for the Covid-19 funding that seemingly disappeared held a placard demonstration on Friday, 11 September on the Bluff.
Residents representing various organisations showed up in their numbers to support the cause held in the afternoon at the corner of Tara and Gray’s Inn roads.
Themed ‘Say No to Covid-19 Corruption’, the group donned orange face masks to raise awareness and encouraged motorists driving pass to hoot in a stance of solidarity.
One of the organisers, Pops Rampersad of the Active Citizen Movement said the colour of the day had a significant meaning.
“We embarked on this orange mask campaign to display the Covid-19 corruption. The reason we chose the orange masks is that orange is the colour of prison uniforms and the mask is related to Covid-19.”
“We want all those involved in the corruption of Covid-19 funds to be charged and eventually land up in jail, hence, the orange masks,” he said, appealing to the nation to rally behind this call.
The demonstration is part of a bigger project with over 60 organisations including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, The Desmond and Leah Legacy Tutu Foundation, South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the Nelson Mandela Foundation with numbers growing daily.
Rampersad added that although the public demonstration was held during level two of the lockdown, the aim was to highlight the theft of funds which were to benefit and protect front-line workers and the marginalised. They had a disciplined protest with people standing at least two metres apart with a mask on to adhere to the restrictions.
“In the next few weeks, we’re embarking on Heritage Week starting from Thursday, 24 September to Sunday, 27 September. We are branding it Rage Against Corruption and want the whole nation to show its displeasure with what is going on.”
“We’ve planned an online meeting, for Friday, 25 September, with more details to follow. On Saturday, 26 September at midday, we want hooters to be honked and vuvuzelas to be blown and wherever is practical for lunchtime pickets.”
“We’re also looking at pickets outside the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) offices to send a signal to them that we are unhappy with the slow pace at which they are dealing with corruption and we want to see people being charged,” he said.
On Saturday, 26 September, a Beach Front event with a flash mob is set to mobilise society to join the movement and on Sunday, 27 September, the SACC will host an interfaith prayer.
“These events will lead up to International Human Rights Day on Thursday, 10 December, where we want to present a citizen’s charter to say to government, as citizens, that we want them to ensure they implement transparent procurement processes and to make this information accessible.”
“We want to say very clearly and loudly to them that they need to professionalise the civil service because therein lies the problem. We believe that many civil servants, once they are deployed to government, begin to act behest to politicians and we want that to stop.”
“We’re either going to celebrate major arrests on the 10th or we’re going to intensify our programme depending on what happens from now until then. We’re really looking at every South African, every business, organisation and media house to support us on this campaign,” he added.
The protests are staged in four phases:
Phase one: Members and supporters are encouraged to don their orange face masks on Fridays.
Phase two: Members are to educate the nation about the ills of corruption, with the core focus on children.
Phase three: Ensuring that people start using whistle-blowing facilities and aids to start calling out those who are corrupt including the people they may know.
Phase four: To get government to protect whistle-blowers as it currently has no form of protection.
To join the movement follow #StopC19Corruption online or like The Active Citizens Movement page on Facebook. Alternatively, WhatsApp Pops Rampersad on 081-443-4192 to be added to the group.
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