JOHANNESBURG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- While South African legislators were being sworn in on Wednesday, a total of 29 South Africa civil society organizations called on them to shun corruption and serve the people.
The 29 organizations released the petition, calling on the parliamentarians to uphold and respect the Constitution, eradicate poverty, inequality and unemployment.
They asked them to fight racism and all forms of discrimination and work to improve service delivery in the country.
"The high unemployment rate causes despair to millions. Education and health services are in urgent need of improvement. Xenophobia permeates at all levels of society and migrants are often used as scapegoats for what is in fact poor service delivery," read the petition.
"We demand that all political parties, particularly the African National Congress and its President, ensure that persons implicated in corruption and state capture are not appointed as members of parliament and ministers," the petition said.
"Those found responsible for wrong-doing must be prosecuted and removed from public office."
The Zondo Commission of Inquiry is currently underway probing the state capture by the certain companies and individuals.
The civil society pledged to work with parliament to improve the wellbeing of the citizens.
