Act on corruption without delay - Ramaphosa

Polokwane – Corruption must be dealt with quickly or else it will spread, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa warned on Friday.

"Good governance must mean that we have cut our links with corruption. Good governance must mean that we have rooted out people who are corrupt,” he told the Limpopo Economic Summit in Polokwane.

"Good governance means that when we see corruption, we must act on it without any delay, because delaying actions against corruption brings cancer, and make it bigger, and bigger, and bigger."

He was speaking after former public protector Thuli Madonsela's "State of Capture" report was released on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa commended Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha for lifting the province out of its financial crisis.

In December 2011, Cabinet placed five Limpopo departments - treasury, education, roads and transport, public works, and health and social development - under administration. This was due to financial mismanagement and maladministration. Control was returned in July 2014.

Ramaphosa said South Africa was not the first country to confront developmental challenges. Decisive leadership able to deal with corruption was needed.

"We want leadership that is committed to the people of our country, leadership that will not be found wanting in any respect whatsoever, and leadership that inspires confidence."

Attracting investment depended on sound planning and stability.

"Demonstrate that you can plan your economy, you can come up with strategies that will be to grow your economy and that you are able to grow your economy."

The Limpopo government needed to exploit its mining, agriculture, and tourism sectors. Red tape had to be removed to make investment easier, but it should not create space for corruption, he said.