One too many corruption scandals emboldening apologists for KPMG

The benefit of distance is often helpful. Especially right now, as we watch in bemusement as some of SA’s business establishment’s antibodies kick in to protect one of its own.

In the past week a few whose opinions I usually respect have publicly pleaded clemency for KPMG. They make it sound as though the auditing firm made a silly mistake rather than not aiding and abetting the Zupta state capture agenda.

For those who have fought so hard and taken such great risks to expose KPMG’s malfeasance, it looks like an elitist counter revolution. But more likely is that with thunderbolts hitting South Africa every week, even industrial scale scandals like KPMG’s are being diluted by sheer volume.

My take? Instead of defending the indefensible, perhaps Discovery’s Adrian Gore, Old Mutual’s Trevor Manuel and others of their persuasion should rationally consider what KPMG’s actions have wrought. And they can then ask themselves whether any society anywhere would renew this firm’s licence to do business. We all know Pravin Gordhan’s answer. It is the only one that makes any sense.

Visited 72 times, 1 visit(s) today