The DPSA recognises the seriousness of public service employees involved in fraud and corruption and is putting the necessary processes in place. In doing so, it must be kept in mind that corruption and fraud investigations are the sole mandate of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and that of discipline management the mandate of the respective heads of department. As such, discipline management is inherently a decentralised process.
In terms of section 15 of the Public Administration Management Act, 2014 (PAMA), misconduct emanating from criminal investigations is a DPSA responsibility. It is therefore envisaged that the newly established Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit will establish a central disciplinary database to monitor, track and record public servants under investigation for misconduct which may include corruption and fraud.
As such, the Unit will play an important role (as contemplated in section 15(4)(f) of the PAMA) to coordinate the involvement of the two identified stakeholders in a decentralised process, so as to able to paint a holistic picture regarding the involvement of public service employees in fraud and corruption.