Civil servants in various critical positions across government must not run away from the process of vetting, warned State Security Minister David Mahlobo during his budget vote speech in Parliament, on Tuesday 26 April 2016.

“We are on course in implementing our policy as agreed on vetting for all senior managers in the public service, supply chain management teams, officials working on critical infrastructure. We are going after those who run away from being vetted” he said.

Mahlobo said these measures were part of the fight against corruption which continues to pose a serious and direct threat to the reconstruction and development initiatives, good governance and service delivery. “We will continue focusing on corruption within the public service and private sector and will extend the process to state owned companies” he said.

In 2015/16 financial year 163 government officials were convicted of corruption-related offences. The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) obtained 483 forfeiture orders to the value of R372 million. Recoveries totalling R356.9 million were also obtained.

Issued by Government Communications and Information System on behalf of the Ministry of State Security