Government speaks at the provincial launch of the Local Government
Anti-Corruption Strategy, North West province
2 April 2007
The Premier
Members of the Executive Committee
Executive mayors
Mayors and councillors present
Officials from the three spheres of government
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
As we indicated last year in October 2006, during the launch of the Local
Government Anti-Corruption Strategy, that whilst we celebrate the achievements
of advancing democracy, successful transformation of the local sphere of
government, the policy measures we have put in place and implement to empower
municipalities to discharge their mandate and bring greater accountability and
transparency in their operations, I am privileged today to announce that the
North West province has taken a step forward towards the realisation of this
vision of clean, accountable and transparent local governance in
municipalities.
As government, in addition to the above initiatives we have introduced a
number of projects, some taking place within the ambit of Project Consolidate
to ensure that the remaining challenges faced by some municipalities do not
pose direct threat to development initiatives, service delivery, good
governance and ultimately, the stability on local government which can erode
all our gains achieved during the first term of the local government.
Despite all the good initiatives, we also need to acknowledge the fact that,
within the sphere of local government, there are few individuals who are
elected representative or appointed administrators, who do not understand and
appreciate the centrality of local government to service delivery and therefore
act in a manner that is not consistent with our set objective of sustainable
improvement of the quality of life of all South Africans and in particular the
vulnerable section of our society.
Available information also confirms that these individuals remain the main
role-players as far as corruption in local government is concerned. They use
their privileged positions that give them the access and opportunity to
manipulate the systems and control processes such as human resource functions
and awarding of tenders.
The few elected representatives and appointed administrators that are
presently being implicated and investigated for their alleged involvement in
unethical conduct, pose a serious threat to local reconstruction and
development initiatives. Available intelligence also strongly suggests that,
although these elected representatives and appointed administrators are often
individually involved or implicated in allegations of corrupt activities in our
municipalities, there is an ongoing and increasing collusion with individuals
from the business sector. The survey on corruption in the South African
business sector conducted by Business against Crime and Corruption is an
indication of the acknowledgement of this emerging and disturbing trend. I have
a message for such people today, 'your time has expired, and we will hunt you
down like dogs chasing bucks.' If you were thinking of doing it, do not even
start. We will deal with you, however slow our pace can be but I guarantee you
its effectiveness.
Notwithstanding the challenges mentioned above, we also know that
allegations of corruption by these individuals within certain municipalities is
a result of poor working environment characterised by lack of or ineffective
internal control systems and oversight. In such instances, the poor working
environment becomes conducive to the manifestation of irregular and corrupt
activities.
The strategy we are launching today, seeks to reinforce our cognisance by
providing practical guidance on the parameters that should be considered when
executing the public's business with the express intent to promote good
governance and accountability. Such practical guidance should foster a greater
culture of transparency and accountability in our system of governance and also
eliminate the so-called grey area that falls in between corruption and the
perception of corruption.
The strategy presented to you now, has mainly been influenced by the good
practices from many of our municipalities and in particular two years of
practical experience working in some Project Consolidate municipalities in
selected provinces. The Constitution of the country states the objects of local
government as:
* to provide democratic and accountable government for local
communities
* to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in
the matters of local government.
The Constitution and other legislations applicable to local government
formed the basis for developing the strategy being launched today. The key
pillar of the strategy is strengthening community participation at all levels
of the operation of the municipalities including exposing and reporting
corruption.
This will further entrench the culture of transparency where communities are
able to demand accountability from elected representatives and appointed
administrators with regard to services. On the other hand elected
representatives will be obliged to engage the communities in among other things
anti-corruption initiatives as a concrete demonstration of their commitment to
good practices.
The strategy provides all of us with the additional measures that would help
us to achieve new successes by preventing corruption within and outside our
institutions. This is important because, as we know, any indication of
corruption, irrespective of its nature and extent, reflects negatively and
undermines public confidence in local, provincial and national governance
system that we have built over the past decade of our democracy.
In addition, corruption constraints our ability to fight poverty and
development, damages social values and undermines democracy and good
governance. The President of the country made a call during the 2nd national
Anti-Corruption summit to all sectors of society to agree on a programme to
strengthen the Anti-Corruption campaign, including setting up structures to
deal with this challenge. It is evident from the President's address at the
summit and during his interaction with the communities at the Izimbizo that the
government is taking the problems and threats posed by corruption
seriously.
We must, however also acknowledge that at the operational level in
municipalities, new challenges arise on an ongoing basis and need to be
responded to as part of further entrenching democracy, enhancing public
confidence in our system of local government and sustainable legitimacy of our
institutions. In order to realise these objectives the Department of Provincial
and Local Government (dplg) has consulted with all the provinces, where
priority focus areas were identified and agreed upon ensuring that the strategy
is successfully implemented. The strategy will be phased in over a five-year
period in line with the strategic priorities of the dplg. The plan of action
includes the establishment of internal institutional structures and
capabilities within municipalities to deal with corruption, manage negative
perceptions created about local government by developing communication
strategies as well as holding provincial anti-corruption summits aimed at
improving the effectiveness of the strategy that is being launched today. The
municipalities need to take a lead in making sure the strategy becomes a living
document that actually addresses all the areas that require particular
attention.
The successful implementation of this strategy will require working together
with the communities, and community structures e.g. ward committees and all
stakeholders to support the necessary actions planned to prevent corruption. As
we have indicated during the national launch, the theme of this strategy is
"Government in partnership with the community to prevent corruption," therefore
the launch of the strategy in this province today, should be seen in the
context of being part of a national effort to promote accountability, good and
clean governance in municipalities, in partnership with communities, towards
the realisation of a better life for all through proper utilisation of
available resources to the benefit of the public good. The launch of this
strategy marks the beginning of the anti-corruption campaign, which we must all
support and sustain in order to increase the levels of confidence in local
government by nurturing a partnership of trust with the communities whilst at
the same time improving their understanding and appreciation of the challenges
we face as government.
I am pleased to announce the province's specific plan on the implementation
of the local government Anti-Corruption strategy being launched here today.
Then plan include the following:
* district awareness campaign and outreach programme throughout the
province
* ensure municipalities are supported to comply with the Municipal Finance
Management Act (MFMA) and that the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) reflects
anti-corruption and risks measures
* ensure that the reported allegations of corruption are investigated and
brought to finality through the relevant structures already in place
* the provincial Department of Local Government will ensure through the Office
of the Premier that the existing structures dealing with matters of
anti-corruption, co-ordinates all their efforts in the implementation of the
strategy.
Let us all fight against corruption for the good of our society, especially
the poor.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
2 April 2007
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za)
