Deputy Speaker, Cope is appalled at the lack of integrity that has become the core of the public sector. It has become the norm that the officials can evade prosecution in one department through simply shifting to another department. This is a violation of the Public Service Handbook and it shows complete disregard for justice and the fight against corruption. According to the Public Service Commission, PSC, a key challenge in addressing corruption is the fact that many officials resign before their disciplinary hearing and accept an appointment in another department.
Cope is therefore shocked at the statement made by Minister Chabane that Jimmy Manyi's disciplinary case is neither here nor there for now, simply because Manyi has shifted from being the Director-General of Labour and become head of government communication.
Cabinet continuously states that no stone will be left unturned in the fight against corruption. Is this the case? We must remember that Manyi exaggerated the Department of Labour's budget by R1 billion and presented it to the portfolio committee as a fact. Now, is this how the government wants to fight against corruption and for integrity?
A similar case is Siyabonga Gama who, after being found guilty in 2009, may be reinstated in the very parastatal from which he was fired. Jimmy Manyi and Siyabonga Gama, irrespective of their status in the public sector or the ruling party, are still public officials and should be held accountable for their actions. The Minister must come clean on this political power play; otherwise everything will remain a pipe dream. Thank you.