The government announced that it will set aside R1bn in disaster relief funds for flood-hit KwaZulu-Natal last week.
The move is much welcomed in the face of human devastation and a trail of destruction caused by torrential rain in that province in recent days.
But government’s financial relief announcement was soon met by growing concerns that the money would likely be looted by corrupt politicians, public servants and business people who view instances of grief and tragedy as an opportunity to grease their palms with public money.
These concerns are completely justified.
Funerals of struggle stalwarts like Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, state capture shenanigans and most recently the looting of Covid-19 relief grants all serve as reminders of the lengths to which these shameless thieves would go to feast on our taxes.
So legitimate is the public concern that Finance Minister Enoch Gondongwana has said the government is considering establishing an independent agency to manage disaster relief funds for KZN.
While the intention of establishing such an agency is well understood, it is unclear at this stage how it will navigate existing government red tape to ensure that public infrastructure and other needs are restored to deserving communities.
But assuming that such an agency will be successful in its custodianship of public funds throughout the process, there is a deeper reality we need to contend with: our public service machinery is so corrupt that it cannot be trusted to meet its constitutional obligations to society, even in times of devastation .
While seeking out independent bodies to provide relief in times of disaster may provide temporary reprieve, not only is it not sustainable, it also means that corruption in its huge scale is not adequately confronted.
It is these moments of heightened public expectation that demonstrate the extent of the breakdown in trust between our society and those who lead it.
Regardless of what some government leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa may say, it is the collective actions of those who betray the will and wellbeing of the people that has seen the government lose its moral legitimacy in the eyes of many.
Sooner rather than later, this is the reality we must confront.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.