Welcoming speech: General Sitole launch of Anti-Corruption Strategy, SAPS Academy Tshwane, Gauteng
Programme Director
Minister of Police, Honourable Mr Cele
Deputy Minister of Police, Honourable Mr Mkongi
Director General of the Public Service Commission, Dr Mamphiswana
Director General of the Department of Public Service and Administration, Mr Diphofa
Deputy Director General of the Department of Public Service and Administration, Mr Govender
Head of the Civil Secretariat for Police, Mr Rapea
Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt Gen Lebeya
Deputy National Commissioners
Divisional Commissioners, Provincial Commissioners, Regional Commissioners
Executive Director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Mr McBride
Union Representatives of POPCRU and SAPU
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is my privilege to welcome all of you to the launch of the SAPS’s Anti-corruption Strategy.
As the management of the SAPS, we are here today to launch the SAPS’ Anti-Corruption Strategy to demonstrate our commitment to fighting corruption and to enhance ethical behaviour in the organisation. The launch coincides with Africa Public Service Month, which is also celebrated in the month of June 2018. The reason for the integration is that the theme for Public Service Month’s celebrations is: Winning the fight against Corruption. A sustainable path to African Public Sector Transformation. The following sub-themes were also adopted: Embedding ethical leadership in the public service and strengthening the effective implementation of anti-corruption measures to realise Agenda 2063.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is why the SAPS has seen this as an opportunity to use the platform provided by Africa Public Service Month to showcase its commitment to fighting corruption and to portray the SAPS’s positive initiatives to prevent, detect, investigate and resolve corruption. The official launch of the SAPS’s Anti-corruption Strategy on this specific day, represents and communicates our commitment to address all corruption with full force.
The SAPS as an organisation, is well aware of the ethical dilemmas and ethical breaches within the organisation, and the implementation of this strategy will enhance and support the strategies already implemented to deal effectively with priority crimes.
Corruption undermines the rule of law, results in human rights violations and allows organized crime to increase, with a resulting very negative impact on service delivery. As the SAPS’s management, we are determined to fight corruption wherever and whenever it manifests, and will ensure that the perpetrators are exposed and brought to book.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to extend a special word of welcome to our honourable Minister of Police, Mr Cele and the Deputy Minister of Police, honourable Mkongi. Your presence at this significant event is greatly appreciated and is indicative of your support and firm stance against crime and corruption.
The SAPS is a leading role player in the criminal justice system and cannot afford, neither will we tolerate any unethical behaviour or corrupt members within our ranks. The SAPS acknowledges the fact that the fight against corruption is a joint effort by all Government departments, and therefore requested the presence of our counterparts in Government at this launch to emphasise our cooperation and joint focus in the fight against corruption. I especially welcome all our counterparts who are primarily and actively involved in strategies to deal with corruption.
Ladies and gentlemen, corruption is the enemy of good governance and it is only through our collective efforts that we can stop it. We have aligned all our initiatives with the Government Prescripts such as Chapter 2 of the Public Service Regulations 2016 by implementing the SAPS’s Employment Regulations 2017 to specifically address issues pertaining to a requirement for financial declarations by the SAPS’s managers and other high risk categories of employees, such as the Finance and Supply Chain components. The disclosure frameworks are supplemented with the implementation of integrity assessments, vetting and lifestyle audits.
The SAPS now also has a designated Integrity Management Service, which greatly enhances initiatives to prevent corruption. Designated programmes have been implemented to conduct advocacy and awareness of issues related to ethics and integrity, with specific focus on high risk environments and to manage possible incidents of a conflict of interest, which prevents SAPS officials from doing business with Government.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is evident that a lot of hard work has been done, but much more needs to be done going forward. The dedication and commitment of everyone is needed to effectively deal with issues of corruption and unethical conduct. It is especially incumbent on the officials assigned with preventing, detecting and investigating corruption to preserve and show real commitment in resolving corruption, and to enhance the ethical culture in the organisation. Specific reference is made to the designated Anti-Corruption Units of the DPCI, the Detective Service and the Integrity Management Service of the DPCI, as well as the Personnel Management Division which needs to play a very active role in the prevention and detection of corruption. I urge them to continue with their good work.
Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, if we cooperate, we can defeat the scourge of corruption. We must strive to do more as a collective to foster a culture of good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability.
Thank you.
