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Anti-corruption hotline recovers R300m

Marin'e Jacobs
By Marin'e Jacobs
Johannesburg, 23 Jul 2013

The state has recovered R300 million after investigations into allegations of corruption received by the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH). In addition, 1 002 officials have been found guilty of corruption during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years alone.

This was revealed by public service and administration minister Lindiwe Sisulu in a written reply to a Parliamentary question by Congress of the People MP Leonard Ramatlakane.

Sisulu says based on the allegations made to the hotline, the state lost R91 million to corruption in 2011/12 and R63.6 million in 2012/13.

The inquiries had resulted in 939 officials being dismissed between April 2011 and March 2012, 25 officials being suspended, and 25 receiving final written warnings.

"It is, therefore, evident that the NACH has yielded positive results in the fight against corruption in the public service," says Sisulu. "Effective investigation of reported cases of alleged corruption by departments and PSC can yield the desired results of combating corruption in the public service."

Questions have been asked about the effectiveness of the NACH, with some reports stating that last year only 39% of all cases reported had been finalised. Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) spokesperson Tuso Zibula could, however, not confirm these reports.

More anti-corruption tools

Sisulu also revealed she will establish the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate corruption in all three spheres of government. "The bureau will investigate high-level corruption, fraud cases and manage disciplinary hearings on behalf of departments."

A number of other systems have also been developed to stamp out corruption. Sisulu says a central database of offenders will be set up, and public servants found guilty of serious corruption cases will be blacklisted and registered in the database.

"This tool will prevent a situation where officials move to other departments in the public service after being found guilty of corruption."

Sisulu noted the establishment of the eDisclosure system, an electronic system that will manage possible financial conflicts of interest between those who manage tenders, and private companies.

The system will be located on the DPSA Web site and linked to other relevant existing databases such as the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, Deeds Registration office and eNatis.

In addition, the Public Sector Integrity Management Framework was tabled in Cabinet, on 16 April. Sisulu says once the framework has been approved, all employees in the public service will be required to declare their financial interests. Departments will in turn be required to set up ethics offices and appoint ethics officers and committees.

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