The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

At a seminar on white collar crime and corruption hosted today by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) and Nortons Inc. the need for all social partners to cooperate in fighting corruption was highlighted. The tone for proper conduct had to be set by leadership in business, government and labour in order to fight corruption, otherwise the existing legislation aimed at fighting corruption would prove largely ineffectual.

The seminar also emphasised the fact that public awareness of the corrosive nature of corruption on service provision was a primary tactic in fighting fraud and corruption. . Every South African citizen had to be made aware of the fact that corruption slowed economic growth and job creation, and disproportionately affected the poor.

The briefing by Mr. Willie Hofmeyr, Head: Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority, on the work done by government in the Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT) was encouraging. He explained that the ACTT was an inter-agency task team that focused on the so-called “big fish” with income from corrupt activities in excess of R5 million. The ACTT had already frozen assets to the extent of R550 million and had charged and convicted sixteen criminals in the past two years. This approach would unquestionably deliver a significant blow against corruption in South Africa.

SACCI is proud to have collaborated with Nortons Inc on this seminar and will continue to support initiatives that make business and the public aware of the consequences of corrupt behavior in society. The SACCI Annual Convention on the 4th and 5th of October 2012 will further the debate on these and related matters (see Sacci.org.za).