Public service graft a serious betrayal of trust

As we enter September, a Public Service Month that celebrates the value and virtue of service to the public, corruption continues to cast its immense, dark shadow over the dreams of a prosperous SA.

With remarkable rapidity, the cancer of corruption is eating into and spreading throughout our institutions which had once been hailed as sacrosanct.

Brick by brick, the principles of our nascent democracy are being torn apart by plundering groups and individuals who line their pockets at the expense of poverty-strPicRken communities.

A mere 26 years into democracy, corruption in SA has reached unprecedented levels that have turned it into one of the most unattractive countries in the world.

This does not, however, imply that the pre-democratic government was squeaky clean, nor does it seek to suggest that corruption is only limited to rogue politicians.

Rather, it means that the cancer of corruption has extended its tentacles to some public servants who have also been fingered in the commission of some of the most atrocious crimes even by career criminals’ standards.

To some, the public service has ceased to be the face of a caring government that is committed to the onerous task of a radical groundswell against corruption.

However, others still firmly believe the public service is acutely alive to the fact that tendencies towards corruption result in inequitable distribution of resources, denigrating human rights and lack of accountability.

They are convinced that constitutional democracy would continue to flourish if there are public servants who show disapproval of acts of corruption.

Indeed, unethical and illegal practices on the part of the public servants are inimical to section 195 of the Constitution, which requires that the public administration must be governed by democratic values and principles that include a high standard of professional ethics and efficient, economic and effective use of resources.

Unethical conduct, which lacks in Ubuntu, is in many instances achieved by cutting corners, dipping one’s hand in the cookie jar, and stealing the fiscus blind.

These disgraceful acts to swindle communities out of their resources, are not just delaying the development project of the country but are shortchanging vulnerable communities of much-needed development.

Unethical and even fraudulent behavior plays a prominent role in the pursuit to acquiring easy and comfortable lifestyles. Job satisfaction and fulfillment takes a back seat, leading to lack of positive contribution to social good.

The climate of lawlessness in the country has engendered the bizarre feeling that so long as one has not been caught in an illegal act, the act is justified and right.

And, it is such ideas that have given birth to the unfortunate blunting of moral sensitivities even during this unprecedented time of the coronavirus pandemic.

Entrusted with matters that relate to the lives of the most vulnerable, public servants should be worthy of the privilege of serving the people.

They should be aware that diverting limited public resources for self-enrichment is a serious betrayal of trust.

As we celebrate the hard work of countless public servants, there is an urgent need for the public service to rid itself of officials whose bounden duty is to carve out a criminal career under the pretext of serving the hopes and aspirations of the people. Hosia Sithole, Pretoria