Ban officials from state contracts

ADELEGATE at a government conference in Port Elizabeth this week asked why it was that after fighting so hard for democracy, politicians and public servants could not benefit from state contracts.

This question is a sad reminder of the mammoth task we have to restore clean governance in our country.

That we are still debating whether or not those close to political power can do business with the government is bad enough.

But to have leaders who publicly won’t accept that government employees cannot use the public purse to enrich themselves is simply shocking. It is a belief system that unfortunately propels corruption in our country.

The question from a Namibian delegate drew gasps of disbelief from MPs, MPLs and other government leaders who attended the Association of Public Accounts Committees (Apac) conference at the Boardwalk Convention Centre.

While many at the conference supported the call to have this practice banned, a small group saw nothing wrong with those meant to serve this country benefiting from our taxes.

At the venue they were in the minority. But they represent a section of our public servants who have looted this country and significantly weakened government’s ability to deliver services where they are needed most.

According to a report by the auditor-general, state employees and their relatives walked away with about R500-million of government contracts in the 2011-12 financial year.

Relatives of civil servants pocketed R141.4-million in government contracts that year, slightly higher than the R136-million in the previous financial year.

As declared at the Apac conference this week, it is essential to have a national policy which outlaws this practice. It is also crucial that there be serious consequences for those caught with their hands in the till.

Without this, we will surely continue down a slippery slope that may be near impossible to come back from.