THE partnership between the City of Johannesburg and Corruption Watch to root out corruption must be lauded. This kind of initiative to eradicate this scourge must also be emulated by other government departments. It is long overdue.
In their findings it has emerged that the abuse of public resources, chief of which are cheating in procurement at local government level and the bribery of traffic officials, top the list of South Africans' concerns about corruption.
Corruption Watch has revealed some disconcerting statistics, including 945 corruption reports by the end of September, averaging about 105 reports a month, with the extent of corruption in municipalities accounting for 25 percent of the reports.
Corruption relating to traffic police and licensing department officers and the licensing department accounts for a combined 14 percent.
While corruption has become commonly associated with embezzlement, most of the complaints related to other forms of corruption: the abuse of state resources, unprocedural procurement, nepotism and unfair labour practices. There have been other corruption complaints by citizens affecting schools, hospitals, community healthcare centres and housing.
Put aside for a moment the fact that the National Anti-corruption Hotline received 7 922 complaints between 2004 and 2010, averaging 141 reports a month, and consider seriously the shocking finding, that about 83 percent of the complainants interviewed by Corruption Watch have expressed their disillusionment with government bodies where they had tried blowing the whistle.
Does that mean that the suspicions are holding true that the people to whom the people entrust their safety, security, shelter and other socially vital services are not to be trusted?
Hopefully, as part of the evolving partnership between the City of Johannesburg and Corruption Watch, residents will be able to report suspicious incidents - and see results.
Hopes are pinned on this after the Johannesburg Metro Police Department had lost more than R56-million to corrupt practices last year alone, with 12 corrupt officers having lost their jobs.
Corruption is a scourge that needs to be obliterated from all community service structures
Truly, a nationwide emulation of Johannesburg and Corruption Watch's anti-initiative could help improve South Africa's chances of realising its true potential.
It will get rid of the perception that government institutions are corrupt and inefficient.
Tackling corruption
THE partnership between the City of Johannesburg and Corruption Watch to root out corruption must be lauded. This kind of initiative to eradicate this scourge must also be emulated by other government departments. It is long overdue.
In their findings it has emerged that the abuse of public resources, chief of which are cheating in procurement at local government level and the bribery of traffic officials, top the list of South Africans' concerns about corruption.
Corruption Watch has revealed some disconcerting statistics, including 945 corruption reports by the end of September, averaging about 105 reports a month, with the extent of corruption in municipalities accounting for 25 percent of the reports.
Corruption relating to traffic police and licensing department officers and the licensing department accounts for a combined 14 percent.
While corruption has become commonly associated with embezzlement, most of the complaints related to other forms of corruption: the abuse of state resources, unprocedural procurement, nepotism and unfair labour practices. There have been other corruption complaints by citizens affecting schools, hospitals, community healthcare centres and housing.
Put aside for a moment the fact that the National Anti-corruption Hotline received 7 922 complaints between 2004 and 2010, averaging 141 reports a month, and consider seriously the shocking finding, that about 83 percent of the complainants interviewed by Corruption Watch have expressed their disillusionment with government bodies where they had tried blowing the whistle.
Does that mean that the suspicions are holding true that the people to whom the people entrust their safety, security, shelter and other socially vital services are not to be trusted?
Hopefully, as part of the evolving partnership between the City of Johannesburg and Corruption Watch, residents will be able to report suspicious incidents - and see results.
Hopes are pinned on this after the Johannesburg Metro Police Department had lost more than R56-million to corrupt practices last year alone, with 12 corrupt officers having lost their jobs.
Corruption is a scourge that needs to be obliterated from all community service structures
Truly, a nationwide emulation of Johannesburg and Corruption Watch's anti-initiative could help improve South Africa's chances of realising its true potential.
It will get rid of the perception that government institutions are corrupt and inefficient.
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