State graft cases pile up

Cogta features high up on list committee reveals

MOST corruption cases reported in the Eastern Cape relate to fraud at government departments and involve fake qualifications, RDP housing fraud, tender irregularities and fraudulent subsistence and travel (S&T) claims.

This was revealed by the provincial anti-corruption committee to the portfolio committee on the office of the premier (OTP) in the provincial Other common cases reported to the anti-corruption body include irregular procurement, appointments, misuse of state resources, theft, bribery and unethical behaviour and abuse of power.

At the moment, 150 cases are before the corruption fighting unit formally known as the directorate on anti-corruption and security management with the primary objective to strengthen accountability in governance in the province.

Of the 150 cases, 40 involve the Fikile Xasa-led department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta).

Only eight of the Cogta cases have been finalised while 32 are still pending and relate to municipal officials involved in RDP fraud and tender legislature in Bhisho yesterday. irregularities at municipalities.

In second place, comes the department of education with 37 cases, of which only nine have been concluded while the remaining 28 involving misappropriation of funds are still pending.

The Dispatch reported that the same department spent R1.78-billion of its annual capital expenditure in a single month in March.

Education is followed by health with 26 cases reported to the directorate, 14 of which are about nepotism and fraudulent qualifications.

The Nancy Sihlwayi-led department of social development only has two cases reported, one of which has been finalised.

Portfolio committee chair Sicelo Gqobana, although pleased by the directorate’s impressive presentation, said corruption was on the rise because there were no consequences for perpetrators.

He added that the executive aut non-action was worsened by the forum of accounting officers’ failure to convene meetings with the anti-corruption directorate for updates on reported cases.

“All that can only be interpreted as an attitude that seeks to undermine government’s commitment to fight corruption,” said Gqobana.

But the worst, said Gqobana, was the alleged non-action by the Hawks on cases forwarded to them.

“We will seek to meet with the Hawks’ national leadership failing which because of their complicated line of reporting we will seek a joint meeting with the national parliament portfolio committee.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za