Ernest Mabuza
27 June 2005
Johannesburg — THE National Anti-Corruption Forum aims to educate South Africans on what steps to take when they encounter corruption in the workplace.
The forum, consisting of government, business and civil society, has appointed public service and administration department director-general Richard Levin, Business Against Crime CEO Kenny Fihla and the convenor of the Civil Society Network against Corruption, Judith February, to run its projects.
Corruption is estimated to cost SA R150bn a year, while the African Union believes it costs the continent at least $150bn.
The forum's projects will include lobbying for two pieces of legislation -- to protect whistle-blowers and to provide for the strengthening of measures to prevent and combat corruption.
It will also produce a user-friendly guide to the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act that will be distributed to businesspeople and government employees.
The forum also aims to promote and strengthen co- operation between government and business.
The forum has budgeted R5,8m for its two-year programme, which also aims to ensure better co-ordination among the agencies responsible for combating corruption.
The forum expressed its support of President Thabo Mbeki's recent decision to release Jacob Zuma from his duties as deputy president.
The forum's chairwoman, Public Services and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, said that the sub- sequent decision by Zuma to resign as an MP was an "appropriate response under the circumstances".
The forum also welcomed the resignation last week of five MPs who admitted in a guilty plea in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court to charges stemming from their involvement in abusing Parliament's travel privileges.
"The forum is proud to be operating in a climate that is actively fighting corruption and promoting integrity in our society," Fraser-Moleketi said.
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