MINISTER’S MESSAGE
No place to hide for corrupt public servants
T
he fight against
tively spent. Government
COVID-19 procurement
corruption is one
emphasised this senti-
contracts online set a
of the state’s major
ment by acting swiftly
precedent for transparen-
against perpetrators who
cy in public procurement.
priorities.
We all know that corruption in both the
took advantage of our fight against COVID-19.
Public servants doing business with government
Mondli Gungubele Minister in The Presidency
private and public sectors
A Fusion Centre was
negates efforts to build a
established to foster col-
Seventeen priority cases
better South Africa for all.
laboration among nine
involving public servants
Overlooking unethical
It destroys trust in the
law enforcement agen-
getting government con-
behaviour in our depart-
country, deters investors,
cies, and this resulted in
tracts after being listed as
ments and remaining
diverts funds meant for
196 criminal cases and
suppliers on the Central
silent while we are aware
upliftment programmes,
the recovery of more than
Supplier Database were
of our colleagues’ cor-
and hampers efforts to
R600 million in public
referred for investigation
rupt activities make us
deliver effective services
money.
and in one, legal proceed-
complicit.
to people.
By August 2021, the
have also been outed.
ings are underway.
If you are tempted to
We also know that cor-
Special Investigating Unit
In September, govern-
ruption in the public sec-
had referred cases worth
ment launched an ethics
public for your own greed,
tor is perceived as rife.
R1.4 billion to the Special
and integrity unit to help
I urge to rethink your
What needs emphasis-
Tribunal to have contracts
public bodies institute dis-
intended course of action.
ing as the world marked
set aside and recover lost
ciplinary proceedings in
Your first priority should
International Anti-Cor-
funds.
cases of misconduct. The
be the people of this
unit will also do lifestyle
country, not your pockets.
ruption Day, which was
In addition, 148 indi-
sacrifice service to the
commemorated on 9
viduals and entities were
audits of public service
Corruption does not pay;
December, is the decisive
referred to the National
employees and investi-
all it does is take away
measures government has
Prosecuting Authority for
gate unexplained wealth.
services from those who
taken to combat corrup-
possible criminal action,
While government is
tion.
127 government officials
doing its bit in the fight
We all agree that
need it the most. Working together, we
were referred for disci-
against corruption, I urge
can rid the public service
COVID-19-related corrup-
plinary action and three
you to examine what
of self-serving people and
tion is an outrage. With
political office bearers for
you, as an individual
help meet the National
many lives devastated by
executive action.
public servant, are doing
Anti-Corruption Strategy’s
to positively contribute
commitment to substan-
in fighting this scourge.
tially reduce corruption by
the pandemic, every cent available should be effec-
4
Government’s decision to publish details of all
Public Sector Manager • December 2021 / January 2022
