STATEMENT ON NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN PARLIAMENT, CAPE TOWN, FROM 14 - 15 APRIL 1999

A National Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by government will be held in Parliament from 14-15 April 1999. Representatives from all sectors of South African society will be invited to attend. Over 250 delegates are expected from the private sector, organisations of civil society, labour, religious organisations and academics.

The Ministries of Justice, Safety and Security, Public Service and Administration, and Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development will host the Summit. The Public Service Commission is the Organising Secretariat and is supported by a planning committee. Funding for this Summit is provided by the European Union.

The Summit forms part of a comprehensive programme against corruption which has been developed in terms of an October 1997 decision of Cabinet. The programme includes the improvement of investigation and prosecution of corruption, the rationalisation of   the agencies combating corruption, review of legislation, steps to improve management systems and disciplines at all levels of government, protection of whistle-blowers and witnesses, and a national campaign based on concrete issues. The Summit will launch this national campaign. The Summit will contribute to the development of a National Integrity Strategy and aims to:

• Create a common understanding of all the aspects of corruption.
• Obtain a commitment from all stakeholders to effectively combat corruption.
• Contribute to the establishment of effective and co-ordinated  anti-corruption structures.
• Provide guidelines for the anti-corruption programme.
• Make recommendations for the review of anti-corruption legislation.
• Send a clear message that government and all other role-players will not tolerate corruption and will respond harshly where it occurs.
  

The following areas for discussion at the Summit have been identified for discussion:

• Promoting good governance, transparency and accountability.
• Keeping local government and municipal service delivery clean.
• Procurement and financial management in the public sector.
• The role of business in preventing and combating corruption in the private sector.
• How organised labour can deal with corruption among its members.
• Rebuilding public morality in society.
• The role of political and other leaders in setting an example.
  

The Summit will avoid becoming a "talk shop" by engaging with the practicalities of the problems in commissions and workshops, including:

• Panel discussions.
• Sharing perspectives on common issues such as government procurement, the criminal justice and local government service delivery.
• Proposing practical solutions to these problems.

International participation from countries which have been successful in combating corruption, particularly in Africa, is being secured, as well as local speakers.

A Summit workshop is being organised to allow sectors of society to prepare concrete inputs to the Summit, and all sectors will be encouraged to take part in a preparatory meeting.

President Mandela has committed the country to a clean and corruption free public administration. He has committed the government and the country to restoring social values which will be  hostile to criminal and anti-social behaviour.

The Deputy President has also attacked pervasive corruption in society and among citizens and has called on the nation to defy corrupt practices.

Corruption cannot be detached from the legacies of the past and the widespread disintegration of moral integrity. Our increased exposure to globalisation has also brought the attendant risks of greater exposure to organised crime, drugs and corruption in business. The National Anti-Corruption Summit will address these issues therefore.

The South African government has also agreed to host the next International Anti-Corruption Conference which will bring world experts and representatives of many countries to South Africa to provide inputs in preventing and combating corruption. This Conference will be organised in conjunction with secretarial help from Transparency International. The Ministry of Justice is co-ordinating this latter initiative.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: PROF. SANGWENI (012)352-1022

Issued by National Anti-Corruption Initiative, 30 March 1999