Statement by Minister in The Presidency, Mr Jeff Radebe, upon receipt of a memorandum and demands of the Unite Against Corruption march
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen and all Compatriots gathered here under the aegis of what is styled the Unite against Corruption Coalition, I have been directed by His Excellency, President J.G. Zuma to come and welcome you as I hereby do as well as to receive the list of concerns that you have compiled. I undertake to convey your concerns to the President for his consideration.
We view your action as one that seeks to give effect to the injunction in the National Development Plan (NDP) that an active citizenry is a critical element towards implementing the proposals contained therein.
The NDP further reminds us that, overcoming corruption and lack of accountability in society requires not only political will, sound institutions and a solid legal foundation but also an active citizenry. Accordingly we view your presence here as an endeavour not only to hold government accountable but also as a commitment to form a social compact with government to overcome the corruption scourge both in the public and private domains.
We want to reiterate that Governments is committed to working with all sectors of South African Society to ensure a corruption free country that is built on integrity and honesty. In this regard government has prioritised the combatting of corruption and is committed to ensuring the implementation of all domestic policies and international obligations geared towards the improvement of integrity, good governance as well as towards the combatting of corruption.
Some of the key achievements include the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Inter-Ministerial Committee (ACIMC) in June 2014. The ACIMC is convened and chaired by myself. The mandate given by the President is to coordinate and oversee the work of state organs aimed at combatting corruption in the public and private sectors.
Its priorities are collectively informed by the National Development Plan (NDP), the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MSTF), the National Security Strategy (NSS) and the country’s international obligations.
One of the key tasks of the ACIMC is to provide strategic direction to the multi-agency Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT) that was created in 2010. It is comprised of about thirteen government departments and anti-corruption entities and is led by the Head of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (aka the HAWKS).
Apart from the creation and institutionalisation of structures that are intended to fight corruption, some progress has been recorded by the ACCT in reducing levels of corruption. This includes investigations of some 203 corruption cases involving 1 065 persons where the benefit per case is R5 million rand and above. Since 2009 there has been 52 Presidential Proclamations for the Special Investigative Unit to conduct investigations of corruption in both the public and private sectors.
Since 2009 we have managed to secure convictions of about 66 individuals. Furthermore, a total of 177 government officials were convicted for corruption related offences since 2014 to date. Since 2009 to date a cumulative total of R3.76 billion freezing orders have been obtained thereby rendering it impossible for suspects to benefit from ill-gotten gains. During the same period a cumulative amount of about R18 million of proceeds of corruption and government losses were recovered from government officials.
In fulfilment of a stipulate of the NDP to create a resilient anti-corruption system for the country, we have commenced with the development of country-wide anticorruption strategy that will bring together government and non-government actors in the fight to ensure that no one benefits from corruption, and that honesty and integrity are a hallmark of a society envisioned in the NDP.
In conclusion I wish to urge that, as part of the social compact I have just referred to, we to act with urgency to resuscitate the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) that was put in place in the early 2000s.
As I understand it the NACF is currently convened by a representative of civil society. We have noted with deep regret however, that the NACF has not met for considerable period of time. I re-emphasise that in government, you will find a partner that able and willing to forge links with yourselves to deliver a decisive blow against the spectre of corruption.
Together we move South Africa forward!
