NEHAWU has noted the recommendations made by the recent National General Council of the ANC calling for the intensification of fight against corruption in the public and the private sectors. The proposal that government should conduct lifestyle audits for all employees of the state and its related entities has the support of our union.

We hope that this move by the ruling party, unlike previous recommendations, will receive unequivocal attention from government. It should not be used to divert attention away from corrupt public representatives and make public servants scapegoats.

We have always maintained that corruption has never done this country any good, and in asserting this long held view we reiterate that it must be uprooted with the tenacity it deserves. In order to give meaning and effect to this recommendation, we strongly believe that this decision must, as a matter of priority, be focused on senior public servants as a starting point. It is obvious that most of those, who are susceptible to corruption within the public service are those placed in strategic positions tasked with decision taking responsibilities.

We wish to also emphasise that in practice the move must also be extended to the private sector. The sector cannot be absolved from corruption tendencies and we are convinced that it accounts for more corruption, which is mostly concealed from the public. If we are to successfully achieve the intended outcomes, we must ensure that everybody account for their source of income. This will not only strengthen corruption fighting systems but will also encourage civil society to become vocal proponents in the fight against corruption.

NEHAWU also believes that once this decision is implemented, law enforcement agencies should be supplied with the necessary resources to prosecute and take remedial action against the perpetrators.

Issued by NEHAWU