[ad_1]
Minister of Administration and Public Services Senzo Mchunu.
- The government must regain the trust of the public, said Minister for Administration and Public Service Senzo Mchunu on the International Day Against Corruption.
- Perpetrators must face the full power of the law, he said.
- The minister said that public servants must re-familiarize themselves with constitutional values.
The government must win the public’s trust, said Minister of Administration and Public Service Senzo Mchunu, commemorating the United Nations International Day Against Corruption on Wednesday.
The International Day Against Corruption is commemorated annually on December 9 in recognition of the United Nations Convention against Corruption that was signed in Mexico in 2003. South Africa is one of the signatories to the convention and ratified it in 2004.
The Public Service Commission, in partnership with the United Nations in South Africa and the University of South Africa, virtually commemorated the day on Wednesday under the theme “Better Recover with Integrity.”
READ | Boutique hotel, cars frozen by AFU amid investigation into KZN prime minister’s staff
Mchunu was the keynote speaker.
He said there would always be corrupt people, driven by greed. “Greed is a sin in the Bible,” he said.
He added that he was also a criminal.
Prevention was important, Mchunu said, and said the government was “doing a lot” in this regard.
He said that when these preventive measures are violated, the perpetrators should confront the “full power of the law.” Not only must they be arrested, they must also get their loot back.
READ HERE | Better late than never: the ministers’ performance agreements finally signed and published
He said that corruption had a negative impact on the provision of services.
“Those who continue to break the law must be brought to account without fear or favor.”
He encouraged the public to report wrongdoing and report corruption.
“Gone are the days when the public had to fear the corrupt,” he said.
“The public must shout at corruption.”
READ | The great challenge of the government is to eradicate old and new corrupt networks in state companies: Gordhan
He said that fighting corruption was one of the government’s “key priorities.”
“There is political will, and I dare say it on behalf of the government.
“We are committed to fighting corruption in the dark and during the day.”
He also encouraged law enforcement agencies to “fear nothing” and said the government was “firmly behind” them.
Mchunu said he recognized that the government was experiencing a trust deficit with citizens. He said the government had to be considered legitimate and recognized that it had to earn that trust.
“We are making great efforts to regain that confidence.”
Public servants must re-familiarize themselves with constitutional values and principles, embody them and ensure that they conduct themselves ethically in their official duties, he added.
