The Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal has noted the Public Service Commission’s report released last week, 4 September 2009 which highlights that the province has the highest number of reported cases of fraud and corruption.
This is in line with the provincial government’s commitment to root out this scourge by encouraging the public at large to blow the whistle, and cooperate with our law enforcement agencies to send the culprits to prison.
We are encouraged that our province reported the highest number of cases and this clearly demonstrates its vigilance. In this regard, it is not correct to say, as Sowetan did on Friday, that “KwaZulu-Natal is the most corrupt province”, in fact KwaZulu-Natal leads in the fight against corruption.
The province's anti-corruption measures can be replicated across the country.
Indeed, on a daily basis, we receive feedback from the public, determined to work together with the government to identify potentially criminal activities.
In the state of the province address, Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize committed the new provincial government to good governance and clean administration. He promised to put in place programmes aimed at preventing fraud and corruption and to take the necessary action in cases of wrong doing.
He stated that the image of corrupt officials serving the public but fraudulently siphoning funds from government was not acceptable. To date:
* The Auditor General is currently doing a conflict of interest’s audit which will determine the extent to which companies owned by government officials are involved in tenders in different government departments. The report is being finalised and will be handed over to the premier. Depending on the findings of the audit, appropriate action will be taken.
* The Office of the Premier is currently working closely with internal audit section in the Provincial Treasury to monitor fraud and corruption in all government departments.
* A fraud and corruption forum will be revived to fast track investigations involving this cancer in our society. It includes several departments, the Directorate of Public Prosecution and the police.
* The process of appointing the ombudsman in the Office of the Premier is being fast tracked. The ombudsman will receive and investigate complaints from the public. Once again, Premier Zweli Mkhize re-affirms what he said in his state of the province address: “KwaZulu-Natal will be at the forefront of the fight against corruption and will give all the support necessary to create an environment where the police are able to root out corruption and affect arrests without any hindrance”.
Next week the provincial government will convene a special press conference to provide a report on investigations that have been conducted to root out corruption.
Enquiries:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya
Cell: 082 3754742
Tell: 033 3413329 or 031 3279361
Fax: 033 3427368 or 031 3010336
E-mail: sibiyand@premier.kzntl.gov.za or ndabezinhlesibiya@yahoo.com
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
5 September 2009
