No country is immune to corruption
CORRUPTION exists in every country. It is just a question of degree, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said at a meeting convened by Brand SA together with TIME magazine at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The session, which focused on Africa's role in an increasingly multi-polar world, reached a consensus that infrastructure development, the removal of trade barriers, more sophisticated financial markets and shifting from distributing raw commodities to exporting modified commodities were key conditions for creating diversified economies across the continent.
"There is a huge opportunity for the continent to start picking up dividends as China moves up the value chain and releases jobs, enabling African countries to outbid countries like Vietnam for these jobs," Gordhan noted.
"However, people won't come to Africa just because it's Africa, we need to create the opportunity for people to partner; that is the great transformation. We must ensure that there is political will, the institutions and infrastructure that enable us to move into the next epoch of developments and bringing more value to our exports."
Panellists remarked that because of its size - population and land mass - development in Africa needed to be considered at three levels: country, sub-regional and pan-regional.
"The more we get cross-country initiatives, the more we get rid of some of the curses like over-politicisation and corruption," Riddell said.
Echoing this sentiment Gordhan said: "Only 10% of African trade happens in Africa. In Europe this figure is up near 60%. We need Africa to invest in Africa."
Gordhan also noted that while the global economic crisis had put pressures on Africa, the current situation in Europe had presented Africa with an opportunity to learn and improve on regional economic integration.
RobinH
"CORRUPTION exists in every country. It is just a question of degree," and another way of saying absolutely nothing new or useful. Sure, Mr Gordhan.... SO?Report Abuse
Tabza325is
Off course it exist in every country, I mean everything gained today by the wealthy was accumilated through corrupt systems, ask all the governdors of reserve banks throughout the world were all the countrie's debt go to or are paid to.Report Abuse
MommaC
I don't love 'every country'. I don't care what those countries do. MY country should never aim for the lowest common denominator, she should set the highest bar.The idea of Africa supporting trade within its own continent and not dancing to the tune of the rest of the world - that is something I can get behind fully
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tpaz
In Europe , companies budget for Bribes, Kick backs, etc.....It is when the people receiving bribes get greedy, or when money is not used for the intended purpose that is when things get wrong. eg. Western Cape, money for Toilet walls
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zaco
~mommaCi agree with your point, however where there are flawed humans...ill is bound to happen, in spite of. pravin is absolutely spot-on. its unfortunate the most common denominator is corruption in all governments due to downward spiral of morals..
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RobinH
tpaz: Just like in the Fr ee State, not so?MommaC and zaco: I too can fully support the notion of doing business within Africa, but I can do without such meaningless apologies.
SOWETAN: The word F R E E is in the name of a province. But it's vulgar.
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Catswhiskers
@tpazWow, I'm impressed. The only example of corruption in SA you can think of is toilet walls in the WC! This is not even a viable example. No proof of corruption was ever suggested in this case. That it is bad service delivery that I agree with, but the money never went to a corrupt official or tender.
Try thinking of some more examples - I'm sure its not that hard when you really try.
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TooClip
"CORRUPTION exists in every country. It is just a question of degree,"All the easy money has been stolen since 1994.
So now government demands a BScorruption
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MommaC
zacoNobody is perfect but it would be nice if our beautiful continent could find leaders who are the LEAST flawed instead of choosing the sods who are the MOST flawed among us.
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maneater
'CORRUPTION exists in every country. It is just a question of degree' gald to hear that mr minister but now you forgot to memntion that in other countries people actually get arrested and sentenced for corruption while in our country we ellect them to be presidents.Report Abuse