In September 2015, BLF compiled it’s “preliminary report on apartheid era corruption and other economic crimes” which goes into the extent of apartheid era corruption and white capital’s role in it. It further suggests who stole the money and where the money is and indicates a course of action going forward. In terms of the above BLF report a total of R563 billion was stolen by white capital which is recoverable.
BLF opened a criminal case (March 2016) with the South African Police Services (SAPS) against a number of white business persons including Johann Rupert for contravening section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities, 2004 (Act No. 12 of 2004). This case is essentially one of corruption and is currently being investigated by the HAWKS.
In March 2016 BLF lodged a complaint with the Public Protector (PP) regarding R26 billion stolen by apartheid era white capitalists and another complaint of “state capture” by the same white business persons including Johann Rupert.
BLF has moreover presented the SAPS, HAWKS and the PP with evidence that shows that these bankers and Johann Rupert have illegally interfered with the duties of the President to appoint ministers in terms of the Constitution which they claim to uphold.
On 19 September 2015, BLF wrote to the National Treasury and requested certain crucial information regarding the Exchange Control and Tax Amnesty afforded to applicants in terms of the Exchange Control Amnesty and Amendment of Taxation Laws Act, 2003. To date no response has been received from the Treasury which Gordhan heads.
BLF wrote to the Governor of SARB on 24 September 2015 and requested certain important information regarding the concessions given to applicants in terms of the 2010 Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) – which amounted to a further amnesty to businesses engaged in capital flight and other economic crimes. To date no response has been received from SARB which falls under the control and management of Minister Gordhan.
BLF has since September 2015 has been engaged in the following direct actions against the Public Protector (PP) to finalize her report regarding the stolen R26 billion and since March 2016 it’s complaint of white state capture including amongst other things:
the sit in at her office on 30 September 2015;
the protest action the next day in terms of which BLF intervened in her keynote address at the Desmond Tutu lecture at UWC;
the protest action on 18 July 2016 at her office that resulted in 26 BLF members being arrested and subsequently imprisoned for 8 days on trumped up charges of public violence, trespassing, kidnapping and intimidation;
the march to her office on 6 October 2016 comprising of over 400 protesters and in respect of which the PP refused to meet BLF outside her office to receive a memorandum;
the overnight picket (from 6 to 7 October 2016) at her office;
the 24 hour continuous pickets at her office over the period 10 to 14 October 2016; and
the march to her office on 14 October 2016.
On 27 October 2016 BLF lodged an application with the high court seeking an order to declare Pravin Gordhan conflicted and compromised in that a conflict of interest situation prevails between himself as Minister of Financial and himself as shareholder in the various businesses including banks that have been responsible for firing Des van Rooyen and hiring him as Minister of Finance.
Also on 27 October BLF participated in Fees Must Fall protest march to Parliament for Free Education. It’s mobilizing and organizing slogan being #PravinMustGo and #26billion. To this end it lead a protest action inside parliament and was later forcibly removed by parliament security for disrupting Gordhan’s mid term budget speech in terms of which he didn’t provide any solution for free education.
Dated 29 October 2016
BLF National Coordinating Committee (NCC)