Hon Speaker, there is no contradiction because we have scored several achievements with regard to the investigation of cases of alleged corruption reported to the national anticorruption hotline. According to the reports provided to the Public Service Commission since the establishment of the hotline and as a result of the successful investigation of cases, 235 officials were found guilty of misconduct.
Of these cases, 35 officials were suspended, 120 were given final written warnings, and 80 officials were dismissed. In addition, a total of R1 million was recovered from perpetrators. Against this backdrop, it is clear that the hotline has had positive spin-offs; not only in terms of monetary value, but also in terms of disciplinary action taken against perpetrators.
The commission is currently following up with departments on all outstanding cases that were reported to the hotline to ensure that departments fulfil their obligations in investigating these cases. We appreciate the fact that an independent body such as the Public Service Commission draws our attention to such matters so that we can improve our efforts.
Let me indicate as well that there are also a number of critical initiatives that government has embarked upon to intensify the fight against corruption. We have established the interministerial committee on anti-corruption to ensure the alignment of corruption-fighting initiatives within government. There are also many agencies that are focusing on various aspects to attack corruption holistically. We have the Multi-Agency Working Group established by the Minister of Finance to investigate high- risk irregularities in the government procurement system. In addition, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development is working with other Ministers in the criminal justice sector to strengthen the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
We have also instructed the Special Investigating Unit to probe alleged maladministration and corruption in several government departments, municipalities and agencies. These are the Department of Health in the Gauteng province, the national Department of Human Settlements, the Department of Arts and Culture, the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape province, the national Department of Public Works, the SA Social Security Agency and the SA Police Service. Last week we added the Ekurhuleni and Tshwane municipalities and the SABC. While not prejudging the investigations, the proclamations we issued are a clear indication of the resolve of government to combat corruption, mismanagement and maladministration at all levels of government and the Public Service.
Let me also take this opportunity to point out that we should avoid making blanket statements about corruption, which only serve to stereotype people. For example, an erroneous impression is created that all local government leaders and officials are corrupt. The majority of mayors, councillors and officials in local government work very diligently and in an honest manner. [Applause.]
Corruption should, therefore, not be used as an instrument of fighting certain ideological or sectarian battles; it should unite all of us to ensure clean governance in the public and private sectors. Thank you. [Applause.]
Thank you hon Speaker. Hon President, my question has nothing to do with internal machinations of the ANC, so, hopefully, I won't have to join the party to get a comprehensive response.
My question is: After publicly emphasising the need for leadership from the government on this issue, why hasn't the strategic report of the anticorruption inter-ministerial committee, which was established a year ago in November 2009, been made public? What recommendations does this report make with regard to holding corrupt public representatives and officials accountable? When will the full report be released? And when can steps seem to be taken with regard to this task force?
The above questions are based on the questionable effectiveness of the national anticorruption hotline and its inability to account for two thirds of the reported cases, the apparent kid-glove treatment of the 235 officials you mentioned, and comments made by Cabinet spokesperson, Themba Maseko, at the Cabinet briefing on 19 November 2009 when he stated that:
Government's view is that government does not provide leadership on the scourge of corruption. The chances are that it will continue and affect each and every aspect of life in South Africa.
Thank you.
Thank you, hon speaker. Well, sorry, if you wanted to join ANC, there is no space at the moment. [Laughter.] I'm just joking; don't worry. [Laughter.]
I think I have just given a report of what is happening in terms of fighting corruption - very specific facts, which will be part of the interministerial committee's report. I don't think that, having got that information, we should then create an impression that nothing has happened. That, I think, must indicate that a lot is happening in fighting crime.
When will the committee report? I think that that is a matter of saying you are interested in receiving the report. The report could be given any time. Since you have said so, I'm sure government will work on the report and put everything together. There is a lot of work that is being done and we are achieving successes. Thank you.
Ngiyabonga Somlomo, mhlonishwa Mongameli, kuye kungabukeki kukuhle noma ngabe batholakala benecala labo abasuke befake isandla ebhodweni elingabafanele uma kuzothatha isikhathi eside ukuthi batholakale benecala ngokwenza lokho. Lokhu ngikushiso ngukuthi kukhona abantu abamiswayo emisebenzini kodwa babe behola, bahlale isikhathi eside bese kuthi ngalesi sikhathi betholakala benecala abanye babo basule emisebenzini bahambe. Lokho kuveza ukuthi abanye babo babaleka nezikhumba zezinkomo asebezidlile Sikuvimba kanjani lokho? Lokhu ngikusho ngoba usanda kusho manje ukuthi leli Komidi loNgqongqoshe abehlukene lizokwethula umbiko maduze nje. Uma kuthiwa maduze nje uyazi ukuthi kungaze kuphele iminyaka emihlanu? Kusemqoka kabi ukuthi sazi ukuthi umaduze nje unini ngempela. Ngiyabonga.
UMONGAMELI WERIPHABHLIKI YASENINGIZIMU AFRIKA: Ngiyabonga Somlomo, ngiyabonga Gatsheni,lungu elihloniphekile lesiShayamthetho. Ngiyethemba ukuthi usuke wezwa ngikhuluma; senginesikhathi eside ngikhuluma ngikhala ngokuthi isikhathi esichithekayo ngaphambi kokuthi kubhekanwe nalabo abenza ubulelesi kuHulumeni side kakhulu. Ezinye zezinto okufanele ukuthi leli komidi lizibheke yikho ukuthi kungenziwa kanjani ukuba kuphuthunywe. Sengikhale kakhulu impela ngaba wuqanduqandu esidlangalaleni futhi hhayi esithe, ngikhala ngakho ukuthi abanye bayantshontsha bese kuthiwa bamisiwe emsebenzini kodwa babe behola behlezi emakhaya.
Kufuneka kushintshe lokho, yinto esiyidingidayo ukuthi sizokwenza kanjani ukuthi sifinyeze isikhathi esiphakathi kokubanjwa komuntu owonile kanye nokugwetshwa kwakhe; yinto esiphezu kwayo leyo. Uma ekhona amacebo athile- njengoba phela kuyaziwa ukuthi amacebo aphuma kuzo izimpunga-, singajabula ukuwezwa, sizwe ubuhlakani obudala bamava athi nakhu esicabanga ukuthi ake nikwenze.
Phela sifuna ukwenza into esizovumelana sonke kuyona ukuze kulungiswe umthetho ngoba zonke lezi zinto zenziwa phezu komthetho. Njengoba uzwile nje uma ngithi abanye banikezwe isexwayiso; umthetho uthi akunikezwe isexwayiso emva kwezikhathi ezithile- kuze kuthiwe sekuyisexwayiso sokugcina-ke lesi, uyantshontsha njalo umuntu uyaqhubeka. Yimithetho le okufanele ukuba sibhekane nayo ukuthi siyishintsha kanjani ukuze senze izinto ngendlela ehlukile sikwazi ukubamba izigebengu. Ngiyajabula ukuthi uwubuze lo mbuzo ngoba sonke kufanele ukuba siyicabange indlela yokuthola amasu namaqhinga okuqeda le nkohlakalo ekhona emphakathini. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Mr V B NDLOVU: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon President, it doesn't look good when it takes a long time to get a verdict for people who have been caught committing crimes. I say this because there are people who were suspended with full pay; they stay for a long time and some of them resign from their jobs when found guilty. This shows that they leave with the evidence. How can we prevent this? I say this because you have just mentioned that this Ministerial Committee will submit a report very soon. Are you aware that if one says very soon, it could even take five years? It is really important for us to know the timeframe. Thank you.
Thank you, Speaker, thank you, Gatsheni, hon member of the National Assembly. I believe that you have heard me complaining for a long time about the time that is wasted before those who commit crimes in government are apprehended. Something this committee must look at is how to fast-track these issues. I have publicly complained that some people steal and are said to be suspended and then they get paid whilst sitting at home.
That must change; we need to come up with a plan with regard to how we are going to shorten the time between a culprit's arrest and the court ruling - that is what we are now embarking on. If there are any other plans - it is known that some ideas come from experienced people - we would be pleased to hear the wisdom of the experienced, saying this is what they think we should do.
Indeed, we want to do something that we all agree upon in order to correct the law because all these things are done based on the law. You heard me when I said that some were given a warning; the law states that warnings should be given after certain incidences have occurred before issuing the final warning, whereas in the meantime the person continues to steal. These are the laws that we must face, so that we manage to amend them in order to do things differently so that we can catch the criminals. I'm happy that you asked this question because we must all think about these plans and strategies of curbing corruption in our community. Thank you.]
Thank you, Speaker. Mr President, in the fight against corruption that government is embarking upon - which all of us support - if officials of state who are dealing with issues of resources are failing to comply with Treasury regulations with regard to tender processes, and the directors-general are failing to disclose their interest, would you agree with the statement that the reasons as to why that is in fact taking place remain suspect? At the moment, there is R3,9 billion that you have incurred as the state; whether it's a quote, and so on.
Again, have you taken the trouble to look at the details of this irregular expenditure of R3,9 billion, which is as a result of the violations in the Cabinet, to ensure that you actually fight corruption in earnest and officials take precautionary measures?
Speaker, as the hon member knows, we have said we are fighting corruption; we are doing everything. Among the measures we detailed here are the steps that have been taken by our Treasury to deal with those questions. We've taken a decision that we cannot tolerate corruption. Therefore, anything that is done wrong, we want to take a firm and quick decision on.
That is the reason why, as I was responding to hon Ndlovu, I said that the time has come for us to look at the laws that at times do not make it quicker for action to be taken. We should be together on those issues so that we can act swiftly and firmly. We are in total agreement in terms of fighting crime and we are not joking about it.
Therefore, whatever ideas you may have - and I know your previous commitment as an MEC; you must have some ideas - bring them forth so that we can work together to fight crime. We need that so that we can help this country out of the problem of people who take decisions and take government's money, as well as the system that makes it difficult to deal with them immediately.
So, we have agreed that we want to be firm and we are working on it. I'm hoping that once we begin to be active, nobody is going to complain because we need to be firm, not so? Agreed. Thank you.
Speaker, hon President, just yesterday, at the meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, the members of this House were informed that 70% of the directors-general in your government have not made their financial disclosures. Is this the kind of example that you would approve of from the most senior civil servants and officials of your government in fighting corruption?
Certainly no, I will not accept that because they ought to disclose. That is what the law says and that is my answer. [Applause.]
See also QUESTIONS AND REPLIES.
Debate concluded.