Give BEE wings

14 March 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

It is no exaggeration that government efforts to improve the lives of the poor are sometimes hampered by corruption in the civil service.

It is no exaggeration that government efforts to improve the lives of the poor are sometimes hampered by corruption in the civil service.

A baseline study on corruption presented at the National Anti-corruption Forum in Pretoria this week has pinpointed corruption in the allocation of state tenders as a problem.

This problem can manifest as black economic empowerment fronting, which the study found to be rife.

The study confirmed serious concerns raised by the poor that empowerment deals were actually meant for the rich and particular cliques.

Corrective steps such as the appointment of genuine and independent officials who scrutinise empowerment deals and the allocation of tenders should be put in place.