The Minister for Public Service and Administration Mr Richard Baloyi has complimented the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo for instituting necessary measures to fight the scourge of corruption.
Minister Baloyi was speaking at the ceremony to launch the DRC Anti-Corruption Strategy in the country’s capital Kinshasa. He has urged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government, civil society and the business community to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against corruption.
“A fight against corruption is a project about writing our own history. A proud nation like the DRC or South Africa will be telling their own good stories if they rise to the level of firmly repositioning their respective states as shining examples of the Continent in good governance, stability and a corruption-free environment,” the Minister said.
He also warned that the Strategy alone will not end corruption but a concerted effort was required to fight the scourge. “The environment where we find ourselves should be free of corruption because the opposite to that is a situation where you find even the naturally good mannered citizens and public servants turning in their attitudes and become as corrupt as the environment itself. A corruption-free environment is the one where there are rules to identify and sanction corruption acts, and where such rules are enforced without fear or favour and there is no room to fear, if not by choice.”
Minister Baloyi emphasised that the South African government remains committed to sharing experiences with the DRC and assisting in the implementation of the strategy as well as compliance with corruption-fighting instruments.
On behalf of the DRC government, the Deputy Prime Minister Mr R Lumani thanked South Africa and the role played by the Department of Public Service and Administration in particular in assisting his country to fight corruption.
For more information contact:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
E-mail: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
