Today marks the launch of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit for the public service. The launch of the Unit is part of a broader anti-corruption strategy for the public service by the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Richard Baloyi.
Established to assist departments with managing corruption cases from investigations to conclusion, the Unit will operate through a multi-agency approach which will include coordination of anti-corruption initiatives within the public sector with key stakeholders such as the Special Investigating Unit, Auditor General of South Africa, National Treasury and the Public Service Commission.
The unit will in the main investigate officials with undeclared business interests, officials doing business with government without disclosing their business interests; officials performing remunerative work outside the public service without permission; and officials who solicit and/or receive bribes in return for performing or not performing official duties as well as those receiving grants or benefits unlawfully.
The key functions of the unit include:
- Conducting, facilitating and coordinating the investigation of high profile cases
- Referring investigation outcomes for corrective action to relevant authority
- Conducting, coordinating and facilitating the management of disciplinary proceedings for high profile cases
- Monitoring and evaluating the consistency and efficacy of the implementation of disciplinary outcomes and corrective action taken
- Providing legal advice and support to resolve high profile cases
- Assisting departments with the management of cases.
Indicators that will measure the performance of the unit are the:
- Percentage reduction in incidents of corruption in the public service.
- Percentage increase in finalised cases (administrative and criminal).
- Number of cases successfully concluded.
- Percentage increase in time it takes to finalise cases.
- Percentage reduction in the level of negative perception of corruption.
- Percentage increase in amounts of money recovered.
- Number of cases reported.
To effectively execute its function, the Unit has been divided into three divisions with the following functions:
1. Investigation Division
The purpose is to coordinate and manage the investigation of high profile cases.
The following activities will be undertaken by the division:
- Developing, implementing and maintaining an investigation framework
- Assisting departments with investigation of corruption related misconduct for high profile cases. This will include cases that departments are investigating and requiring further assistance from the Unit and cases that are referred to the Unit for investigations.
- Collating data on ongoing and pending investigations for high profile cases and providing support to departments to address the backlog
- Maintaining a centralised database of ongoing and concluded
- Investigations for high profile cases.
2. Legal and disciplinary division
The purpose is to manage the disciplinary processes and support coordination of all disciplinary committee processes.
The following activities will be undertaken by the division:
- Developing, implementing and maintaining a framework for the management of disciplinary proceedings
- Conducting, coordinating and facilitating the management of disciplinary cases
- Ensuring that recommendations from investigations relating to senior managers concluded by other agencies/and or government components are enforced
- Collating and centralising data on ongoing basis and pending disciplinary cases of senior managers
- Developing and maintaining a panel of accredited presiding officers
- Coordinating and facilitating the appointment of presiding officers
- Analysing, evaluating and reporting on disciplinary outcomes to promote consistency
- Monitoring and evaluating the consistency and efficacy of the implementation of disciplinary outcomes and corrective action taken.
3. Strategic Information Management Division
This division will ensure adequate security for whistle blowers, informants and information provided.
The following activities will be undertaken by the division:
- To gather information
- To ensure validity and safety of information; and
- Linking with ethics officers in departments to ensure that
- people are not victimised for blowing the whistle.
Section 3 of the Public Service Act empowers the Minister for the Public Service and Administration to make policy, establish norms and standards and promulgate regulations in respect of integrity, ethics and anti-corruption in the public service.
In discharging this mandate in addition to other initiatives implemented, Minister Baloyi today established the Special Anti-Corruption Unit.
For more information contact:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Cell: 082 885 9448
Tel: 012 336 1704
E-mail: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
Lebohang Mafokosi
Cell: 082 312 4641
Tel: 012 336 1017
E-mail: lebohangm@dpsa.gov.za
