Gauteng sets up anti-graft panel

GAUTENG has become the first provincial government in the country to set up an ethics and anti-corruption advisory panel under former auditor-general Terence Nombembe to monitor trends of graft in the province.

Yesterday, Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced the establishment of the 10 person-team headed by Nombembe.

It also includes lawyer Advocate Fay Mukaddam; South Africa’s first black female chartered accountant, Nonkululeko Gobodo; civil society activist Puseletso Madumise; Corruption Watch boss David Lewis; retired University of Pretoria professor Stella Nkomo; and, former Tshwane mayor Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa.

Others on the graft busting team are: Professor Deon Rossouw, of the Ethics Institute; Dennis George. of the Federation of Unions of SA; and, Lerato Joel Motsiri, of Cosatu in Gauteng.

The panel will monitor trends in integrity and corruption and advise Makhura and his executive on taking appropriate action. It will also annually report on “the state of ethics, integrity and clean governance”.

Makhura admitted that the establishment of the advisory panel came in the wake of several accusations of corruption in government departments. His office and the Gauteng Treasury were probing acts of corruption in the departments of roads and transport and social development.

But some of these forensic investigations had, according to Makhura, shortcomings in dealing with the rot or overhauling acts of corruption and fraud.

Makhura remained optimistic that the advisory council would turn the tide against corruption in the province.

“This is the first initiative of its kind in our republic.”