Bright minds join forces to extinguish the curse of fraud
Public tracking surveys are effective in delaying financial and kind transfers and and the leakage rates in public spending, says Dr Roxana Bratu
The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) brings to the fore various methods of clean and effective governance in its quest to help communities through its funding model. Dr Roxana Bratu, a lecturer in corruption analysis at the University of Sussex in England, was invited to address the virtual conference jointly organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the NLC.
Speaking from England, Bratu stated that it was important to have a discussion about corruption.
Bratu mentioned the importance of dealing with how to measure corruption, explaining that efforts should be made to make the world a better place for all.
“The abuse of the public office or any other institution for private gain is corruption,” Bratu told the conference.
“This is where corrupt people abuse public power, authority or office through bribery, embezzlement or extortion to enrich themselves. Such behaviour, which deviates from formal duties of a public role due to unduly personal gain, violates rules through misappropriation of funds.”
Bratu said when public officials start enforcing their authority by demanding favours from clients or those who should be assisted professionally on merit, that brings a bigger question on how corruption peddlers are making it difficult for any organisation to work ethically.
“Public tracking surveys [Pets] are effective in delaying financial and in kind transfers, leakage rates and general efficiencies in public spending. Pets trace cases in which public money has either not ended up where it should or cannot be accounted for at all,” she said.
Measuring the risks of corruption in various sectors can also be a good proxy indicator showing how fraud is committed, she added.
NLC secretary Advocate Nompumelelo Nene said the NLC had implemented measures on the experience of corruption and believes that the leadership of the organisation should hold high standards of ethics in order to be accountable at all times.
“The NLC had conducted an analysis of its stakeholder’s real level of interaction with corruption. The assessment was conducted through our whistleblowing hotlines, where the NLC was able to gauge the public’s experience in relation to corrupt activities over the past three years. It is noteworthy that the NLC experienced a 2% loss on annual revenue due to fraud over the past three years, which was significantly less than the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners benchmark of 5% loss on annual revenue to fraud,” said Nene.
World-acclaimed Ndlovu Youth Choir, pictured, Amari Live and Alex Dance Group mesmerized the audience during the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development virtual conference, which was held in partnership with the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
Through song and dance, the groups celebrated the good cause of fighting corruption, sending out a message that South Africa will one day be free from the grip of corrupt officials.
Local and global viewers, who
participated in the virtual conference, held in Centurion in Pretoria, were visibly enjoying the groups’ performances.
The Ndlovu Youth Choir musical director, Ralf Schmitt, expressed the group’s gratitude to be part of the event, which was held on Thursday.
“We are happy to be associated with the NLC on its quest to fight corruption that is destroying our country. This shows that the NLC is seriously fighting this pandemic and this is a great initiative,” said Schmitt