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Independent Democrats Secretary-General Haniff Hoosen MP has questioned the effectiveness of Government’s attempts to curb the high corruption rate in the country and has described Government’s anti corruption strategies as a superficial attempt to dupe the public into believing that they are indeed serious about tackling corruption.

Responding to Transparency International recent report on the corruption perception index, which is the world’s most relied upon corruption index monitor, Hoosen said that South Africa has slipped back 32 places since 1998. (https://cisp.cachefly.net/assets/articles/attachments/36651_ti_cpi_2011_report_view.pdf )

In 1998 South Africa was in 32 second place, last year in 53rd place and the most recent rating placed SA in 64th place out of a total of 183 countries. New Zealand, placed number one on the list is perceived to be the least corrupt country in the world.

‘Unless Government adopts a multi pronged approach which cuts across all departmental policies, and unless a complete overhaul of our corruption fighting activities are conducted, there is a very strong likelihood that SA will slip further towards becoming the most corrupt country in the world,’ says Hoosen.

Some of the major contributing factors to SA’s poor anti-corruption record are:

• The controversial appointment of Menzi Simelane as the Head of the NPA notwithstanding the damning allegations against him made by the Ginwala Commission of Enquiry.

• The shock sacking of Willie Hofmeyer, the Head of the Special Investigating Unit which deals largely with cases of a corrupt nature notwithstanding the fact that the SIU posted the best year ever in their annual report to Parliament.

• The controversial appointment of a more “Zuma friendly” Head of the SIU, former Judge Willem Heath who acted as an advisor to President Zuma in his corruption trial.

• The introduction and passing of the Secrecy Bill notwithstanding the massive outcry from civil society and media groups.

• Zuma’s controversial judicial appointments.

• The Public Service Commission’s report last year on the Anti Corruption Hotline where more than two thirds of the 7529 cases of corruption reported has gone missing.

• The appointment of ANC cadres to key Government positions and the “covering up” of corrupt activities by many of these officials. The appointment of Mac Maharaj (Zuma’s spokesperson) who has been accused of corrupt activities around the Arms deal is one of many examples.

‘It seems that notwithstanding the interventions made by Government to reduce corruption in South Africa, there have been little or no results. In fact, since 1998, South Africa has become more corrupt. The reason for this is that the “real” political will to eradicate corruption does not exist. The very people, who preach anti corruptive behaviour, are the ones who stand to benefit the most from corrupt activities,’ Hoosen says.