Premier Makhura launches bold initiative to fight corruption
Taking the lead in combating graft
The story of corruption in South Africa is well documented.
Indeed, corruption is sweeping across government and money meant for service delivery is wasted on dodgy contracts and tenders, and theft of public assets.
All that is required now is action to deal with corrupt public officials within government who steal from the poor.
An analysis of the National Anti-Corruption Hotline cases indicated that the top five manifestations of corruption in Gauteng include fraud and bribery, abuse of government resources, criminal conduct, procurement irregularities and RDP housing fraud.
Although much is heard about these allegations about corruption, public officials found guilty of financial impropriety are hardly ever arrested and prosecuted for their crimes.
Last month, the Gauteng Provincial Government demonstrated its commitment to fight against corruption when it launched the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Advisory Council.
The Council was launched by Premier David Makhura during the Ethics and AntiCorruption Indaba held at Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
“As part of its crusade to make government more accountable and transparent, we have appointed the civil society-led Gauteng Ethics and Advisory Council, which will be ethics and anti-corruption watchdog of our province,” Makhura said.
“This is the first initiative of its kind in our republic.
“As the Gauteng government, we want to subject ourselves to scrutiny by civil society on how we are doing in building an ethical culture and fighting fraud and corruption in our province.”
Makhura has hailed the establishment of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Advisory Council as a great step in the efforts to eradicate corruption and promote integrity and ethics in the public sector.
Makhura knows very well that it is scrutiny by the public that keeps the powerful honest.
As a result, the 10-member team is made up of representatives from civil society, business, academia and community structures.
The members of the Council include Dr Terence Nombembe, who has been appointed chairman.
Other members include chartered accountant Nonkululeko Gobodo, executive director of Corruption Watch David Lewis, Moral Regeneration Movement chairman Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa and the Gauteng secretary of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union Lerata Motsiri.
Makhura has commended the Council members for agreeing to serve their nation and its people in this capacity.
“We trust that your ultimate reward will be the smiles, the sighs of relief and the tears of joy, especially from the poor and most vulnerable in our society who would otherwise have been denied a public good or service as a result of corruption,” he said.
The Council will advise Makhura and the Executive Committee on appropriate actions to be taken against those who have been found guilty of misappropriation of funds or financial impropriety.
They will also report annually to the Premier about the state of ethics, integrity and clean governance in Gauteng.
The council, on the other hand, will make recommendations to the Executive Council and Legislature’s Integrity Commissioner on appropriate measures and actions to en- hance ethics, integrity and accountability in the public sector.
Now that the Council has been established, it will take further steps to decisively deal with corruption.
Six cases of allegations of corrupt practices involving 14 officials and 21 service providers have already been referred to the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council.
The Gauteng provincial government has committed to implementing internal disciplinary processes and opening criminal cases for law enforcement agencies to play their role in fighting corruption and ensuring prosecution of officials.
The recovery of funds will be pursued to ensure that funds are returned to state coffers.
“Stamping out corruption in the police services, housing, schools, licensing will also become the focus of the Council.”
Makhura said corruption destroys state institutions and deters investment.
“It also destroys jobs. It hinders development. It stunts prosperity. It steals from the poor. It increases inequality,” he said.
“At a global level, corruption is one of the major problems facing humanity today, together with climate change, poverty, inequality, migration and terrorism.
“For instance, Transparency International estimates that worldwide $1.5-trillion is paid annually in bribes, with nearly one in four people indicating that they have paid a bribe for access to a particular public good or service such as a school, medical care, a house or even paying a bribe to avoid facing consequences of a criminal offence.
“It is further estimated that $2.6-trillion is stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5% of global GDP.”
Nombembe said the Council is a gamechanger and will go a long way in exposing corruption within government.
“What is remarkable about the Advisory Council is its proximity to the grassroots and involvement of the civil society as well as unions, the Moral Regeneration Movement, chartered accountants and lawyers,” said Nombembe.
“We also applaud the Gauteng provincial government to make the issue of fighting corruption and instilling principles of ethics and integrity as part of their identity.
“Their commitment to the fight against corruption started with the launch of the open tender system and it shows that they are serious about issues of transparency. The political is critical if corruption is to be defeated.”
He added that as the Advisory Council, their core functions will be to ensure there is institutional capacity to act on corruption swiftly and effectively.
“It is important that cases are referred to prosecutorial authorities to be dealt with and send a clear message that we are serious with dealing with financial impropriety.”
Mkhatshwa said corruption is not a “genetical disease”.
“None of us were born with evil or virtu- ous for that matter. A combination of social factors normally encourages people to be corrupt ... They include poor family upbringing, badly-managed schools, irresponsible teachers and materialistic factors, corruptible police, greedy politicians and business leaders,” Mkhatshwa said.
“Last but not least, our unjust social system which thrives on kleptomania, spineless judiciary and maladministration can provide fertile ground for corruption, especially in government circles.
“It is common cause that corruption breeds selfishness, dishonesty, arrogance, suspicion, insatiable greediness and even cruelty.
“The evil of corruption is that it obstructs human and economic development and a better life for all. The bold initiative taken by Premier David Makhura against corruption deserves praise and support by all.”
The provincial government’s anti-corruption strategic framework states that the Office of the Premier in partnership with the Department of Public Service and Administration must roll out an anti-corruption training programmeLL.
This training is designed to increase the competency of internal investigators to investigate corruption and related offences.
The Gauteng provincial government is also seeking to formalise working relations with organised business formations like Business Unity South Africa, Black Business Council, Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and informal traders.
This will be achieved by the Gauteng Province Anti-Corruption Forum which will develop a joint programme of action that includes integrity pacts, a good practice guide on internal controls and compliance, development of an anti-corruption guide for small, medium and micro enterprises, and anti-corruption education and awareness programmes.
“Our province must take a lead in fighting corruption as much as in tackling inequality, poverty and unemployment,” Makhura stated.
Our province must take a lead in fighting corruption ...” – Premier David Makhura