Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma says to prevent corruption in the supply chain system in government, a central tender board to adjudicate tenders in all spheres of government, was being established.
“This body will work with the chief procurement officer whose main function will be to check on pricing and adherence to procedures as well as fairness,” said the President in his 6th State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday night.
He said fighting corruption within the public service was yielding results, with government recovering more than R320 million from perpetrators through the National Anti-Corruption Hotline.
“Since the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Hotline by the Public Service Commission, over 13 000 cases of corruption and maladministration have been referred to government departments for further handling and investigation.”
He said further steps against those involved were now underway.
The President said the National Anti-Corruption Hotline had recorded many successes including, that 1 542 officials were dismissed from the public service, 140 officials were fined their three month salary, 20 officials were demoted, 355 officials were given final written warnings and 204 officials were prosecuted.
The Special Investigating Unit is investigating maladministration or alleged corruption in a number of government departments and state entities, through 40 proclamations signed by the President during this administration.
Zuma said the public would be kept informed of the outcome of the investigations.
Added to this, in the first six months of last year, the Asset Forfeiture Unit paid a total of R149 million into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account and to the victims of crime.
“This is 170% above its target of R55 million and is higher than it has ever achieved in a full year.
Last year, the competition authorities investigated large-scale price fixing in the construction industry and fined guilty companies R1.4 billion.”
Zuma said South Africans are united in wanting a corruption free society. – SAnews.gov.za
