JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The African National Congress’ “moral authority has been eroded” by a string of corruption allegations, Ireland’s former president said Sunday, telling South Africa’s governing party to back away from a proposed official secrets law and confront poverty and inequality in the nation.

Mary Robinson used a speech Sunday in Cape Town at an event honoring Nelson Mandela, the ANC’s iconic political leader, to try and prod his party’s focus toward social justice. While acknowledging the party’s long history at bringing true democracy to the country, Robinson said South Africa remains “a nation of paradoxes” where economic opportunities remain few for the nation’s youth.