Issued by GCIS
Pretoria 14 April 2000
Ladies and gentlemen, today is the anniversary of the National Anti-Corruption Summit held in Cape Town in 1999. At that Summit several resolutions were taken which have formed the basis of the National Anti-corruption campaign over the past year. The key resolutions were:
The establishment of whistle-blowing mechanisms is on track through the approval of Protected Disclosures Bill earlier this month by Parliament's Justice Portfolio Committee. Once enacted, this act will protect whistleblowers from victimization where they expose corrupt and unethical practices. In line with the Summit resolution, Parliament has moved quickly to foster greater transparency, whistle-blowing and accountability in all sectors through the enactment of The Promotion of Access to Information Act earlier this year. Transparency and accountability within the Public Service will be further enhanced through the establishment by the Department of Public Service and Administration of an Asset Register for Senior Managers. The register is currently being implemented and will be housed in the Public Service Commission fr monitoring its application.
Following the summit, the Public Service Commission, as flagcarrier of the anti-corruption campaign, convened a series of Cross Sectoral Task team meetings. The Cross Sectoral Task Team comprises:
The Business and Financial Sector NGO's CBO's and Professional
Bodies
Organised Religion
Organised Labour
Media
Public Sector
Academic Institutions
Cross Sectoral Task Team sub-committees were established in order to take the National Anti-Corruption Programme forward, and to look into the establishment of a National Structure to lead, monitor, coordinate and manage the anti-corruption programe.
Consensus has been reached within the Cross Sectoral Task Team that a national non-statutory structure be created along the lines of National Aids Council, to drive the National Anti-Corruption programme. A working committee is currently investigating the form which such a non-statutory body will take, as well as its constitution, and will make recommendations to the Cross-Sectoral Task Team by the end of the month, which will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.
Anti-corruption hotlines have been established Nationally and Provincially, and the Public Service Commission is currently investigating their effectiveness, as well as an auditing system to monitor progress on investigations arising out of the hotlines. Several Departments have initiated a wide range of activities to ensure proper audit control. Internal audit measures and anti-corruption and fraud units have been instituted in departments. The Public Finance Management Act, which became effective from 1st April will also enhance anti-corruption through the greater financial accountability and efficiency that it requires.
The Department of Justice is currently undertaking an audit of anti-corruption legislation as well as assessing the effectiveness of this legislation. The objective of the audit will be to determine whether fresh legislation is required to enhance the effectiveness of the anti-corruption program.
The Public Service Commission is currently developing a Risk Management framework and policy for the Public Service. This will require departments to identify the risks they face, to assess the causes of these risks, the likelihood of their occurrence, prioritise these risks and formulate appropriate responses. This approach is aimed at infusing a culture of Risk Management throughout the Public Service.
Business has now joined the public service and the NGO sector in implementing a code of conduct to promote a culture of integrity in the business sector, and the Banking Council has adopted a Code of Good Practice. Individual banks have put in place incentive schemes for staff reporting on fraud and corruption. Parliament has followed suit, and a draft Code of Conduct for all members of Parliament is in progress.
Following the Summit, the Public Service Commission conducted a series of Provincial workshops on the Code of Conduct for public servants. These workshops were attended by a total of 475 managers, who will in turn cascade the workshop outcomes downwards to all levels of the public service. The Commission is currently conducting another series of workshops on anti-corruption in the provinces, with one of the outcomes being the creation of cross-sectoral provincial structures to coordinate provincial anti-corruption strategies.
In conclusion, when reflecting on the past year, we have much to be proud of in the struggle against the scourge of corruption. We have combined a promotional campaign approach, with a proactive strategy of putting in place legislation and processes which will considerably narrow the scope for corruption in South Africa.