25 June 2007
Corruption is a societal problem that affects the private and public sector
and the role of business in fighting corruption especially within its sector
should be enhanced. Based on the understanding of corruption as taking place at
the interface between the public and the private sectors, and between
businesses in the private sector, there is a need to develop effective
anti-corruption strategies that enhances public and corporate governance.
Government, in its continued efforts to combat corruption in South Africa is
today launching the business survey against corruption. This survey is a
follow-up to the business survey against corruption of 2002 that was undertaken
as part of the Country Corruption Assessment (CCA). The survey forms part of
the longitudinal study that focuses on corruption and anti-corruption measures
within the private sector over time. The CCA was the first assessment of its
kind in South Africa and to date represents the most comprehensive picture of
the state of corruption and anti-corruption measures in the country. Similarly,
the CCA provided a baseline against which progress would be assessed in the
future.
The study is aimed at enhancing the understanding of corruption and
corporate governance measures within the private sector as well as to assess
compliance with legislative requirements under the Prevention and Combating of
Corrupt Activities Act of 2004. The study will be undertaken by the Consortium
of Plus 94 Research and Deloitte from the 25th of June to 20th of July
2007.
The study will focus on business environment including obstacles to doing
business, the problem of corruption and its impact on the private sector,
aspect of corruption including frequency, recipients and givers of bribes,
corporate governance including laws, policies and compliance, assessment of the
spread, doing business in Africa and other parts of the globe, and bribery by
South African companies in foreign countries. Corruption within the private
sector has in recent months featured strongly in the media especially the
results of the Transparency International Bribe Payers' Index whereby South
African businesses were ranked 24th out of 30 countries indicating the
propensity of South African companies to pay bribes when conducting business
outside South Africa.
The study will be undertaken at the national level with the participation of
1 500 companies from the following sectors: agriculture, forestry, fishing,
mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, water, gas, construction,
wholesale, retail, catering and accommodation, transport, storage,
communication, information and communication technology (ICT), financial
intermediation, insurance, real estate and business service, and health.
The results of the study will be used to inform policy developments in the
area of anti-corruption. It is also expected that National Anti-Corruption
Forum will assess the findings with a view to strengthening inter-sectoral
co-operation and the national integrity system.
Enquiries:
Lewis Rabkin
Cell: 082 497 3220
Issued by: Ministry of Public Service and Administration
25 June 2007
