10 December 2007
North West Premier Edna Molewa and Public Service and Administration
Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi have spoken hard about the danger of
corruption manifesting itself in society.
The two were speaking at the ceremony to commemorate the International
Anti-Corruption Day in Mogogelo village near Hammanskraal.
Premier Molewa said this event was taken to the people in order to highlight
the significant role that ordinary citizens can play in the fight against
corruption.
She explained that it was important for the people to know and understand
that is their responsibility to expose all forms of corruption across all
spectrums in society.
"People must also have trust and confidence in the law enforcement agencies.
We can effectively use these agencies to root-out corruption without fear or
favour so that we can create a society free from this scourge," said
Molewa.
Molewa cited an example where community members exposed a local councillor
in Madibeng Municipality for allegedly selling houses to other members of the
community at the expense of deserving beneficiaries.
This, she explained, was a good anti-corruption initiative by a responsible
community, which sought to play a role without fear to expose corrupt people in
their midst.
Government, business, civil society and political parties also have a role
to play in fighting corruption including within their own ranks, Minister
Moleketi said.
She said ordinary people should also be at the forefront of fighting the
scourge in an effort to safeguard the South Africa's young democracy.
The Minister said communities such as Mogogelo were better positioned to
unearth and subsequently expose corruption because they are at the receiving
end of services where corruption is more likely to surface.
In this context, the Minister warned that people should be aware of
corruption in all sectors as it had the potential of threatening the country's
integrity.
Fraser-Moleketi said exposing corruption and standing firm against it would
help strengthen the country's legal and value systems.
The International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated by countries that are
signatories to the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Corruption. In terms
of the agreement, the international community recognises that the effective
against corruption and fraud is the responsibility of all governments worldwide
and the North West Provincial Government is no exception.
The UN Convention Against Corruption is one of the legally binding global
anti-corruption agreements, which marks a historic milestone in the world's
fight against the global scourge of corruption.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Spokesperson: North West Provincial Government
Tel: 018 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: North West Provincial Government
10 December 2007
