THE government does not know what happened to thousands of cases of corruption reported on its hotline.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) revealed the figures yesterday, saying it had received feedback on only 2717 of the 7529 reported cases.
The revelations have left political parties shocked and angry. They say this shows that the setting up of the hotline was a waste of taxpayers' money and that "the government is not serious in its fight against corruption".
According to the report the commission received allegations of corruption against various government departments. After investigations it submitted recommendations to the affected departments but feedback was received on only 36percent of these cases.
In addition the report says "feedback" does not mean the cases have been resolved or attended to.
Neither the commission nor the whistle-blowers know what happened to the rest of the cases.
"The departmental capacity to follow up on these cases and investigate them is lacking. It is clear that the building of such capacity. might take much longer."
Commission chairperson Ralph Mgijima described corruption in the public service as a challenge with no boundaries and said it should be addressed together with all sectors of society. Mgijima called for "a range of coordinated and complementary processes, instruments and institutions that collectively promote and support integrity and anti-corruption in public administration."
These should include a code of conduct, whistle-blowing legislation and legislative frameworks promoting transparency and accountability.
"Immediate attention should be on creating centralised capacity, for example in the offices of premiers, to fight corruption," Mgijima said.
Concerning the accountability of the public administration, the commission found that the measures introduced to shift accountability towards outcomes were certainly a step in the right direction.
"By proposing outcomes the government is setting itself up to be measured on a more rigorous and tangible basis on matters that citizens can identify with," the report notes.
It advises that for the outcomes approach to be successful "there must be a willingness to work in concert, rather than in competition with each other".
The report adds that the government would have to address the "weak alignment between human resource planning, human resource development and employment equity," among others.
United Democratic Movement general secretary Humphrey Nobongoza said: "Appointing people with no experience . makes a mockery of government's commitment to fight corruption."
Pan Africanist Congress spokesperson Lehlohonolo Shale said his party was worried that institutions expected to deal with corruption were toothless.
Corruption hotline is corrupt
THE government does not know what happened to thousands of cases of corruption reported on its hotline.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) revealed the figures yesterday, saying it had received feedback on only 2717 of the 7529 reported cases.
The revelations have left political parties shocked and angry. They say this shows that the setting up of the hotline was a waste of taxpayers' money and that "the government is not serious in its fight against corruption".
According to the report the commission received allegations of corruption against various government departments. After investigations it submitted recommendations to the affected departments but feedback was received on only 36percent of these cases.
In addition the report says "feedback" does not mean the cases have been resolved or attended to.
Neither the commission nor the whistle-blowers know what happened to the rest of the cases.
"The departmental capacity to follow up on these cases and investigate them is lacking. It is clear that the building of such capacity. might take much longer."
Commission chairperson Ralph Mgijima described corruption in the public service as a challenge with no boundaries and said it should be addressed together with all sectors of society. Mgijima called for "a range of coordinated and complementary processes, instruments and institutions that collectively promote and support integrity and anti-corruption in public administration."
These should include a code of conduct, whistle-blowing legislation and legislative frameworks promoting transparency and accountability.
"Immediate attention should be on creating centralised capacity, for example in the offices of premiers, to fight corruption," Mgijima said.
Concerning the accountability of the public administration, the commission found that the measures introduced to shift accountability towards outcomes were certainly a step in the right direction.
"By proposing outcomes the government is setting itself up to be measured on a more rigorous and tangible basis on matters that citizens can identify with," the report notes.
It advises that for the outcomes approach to be successful "there must be a willingness to work in concert, rather than in competition with each other".
The report adds that the government would have to address the "weak alignment between human resource planning, human resource development and employment equity," among others.
United Democratic Movement general secretary Humphrey Nobongoza said: "Appointing people with no experience . makes a mockery of government's commitment to fight corruption."
Pan Africanist Congress spokesperson Lehlohonolo Shale said his party was worried that institutions expected to deal with corruption were toothless.
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