Corruption carried out by those in government must be rooted out, former president Kgalema Motlanthe said over the weekend.

“Corruption, especially among those of us charged with the important task of governance – of ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach all our people – must be eradicated root and branch,” said Motlanthe in the ANC Today newsletter.

“Our country faces challenges of varying magnitude at this moment.”

He said many other problems were also, directly or indirectly, those “stemming from history”.

The economy was a core issue – with problems of poverty, inequality and unemployment still remaining.

Motlanthe’s comments were part of an article paying tribute to the Inkatha Freedom Party on its 40th anniversary.

“Today, South Africa is a normal democracy and the IFP is an important if not a critical element of this vibrant democracy,” he said. News24