Labour Federation Cosatu says the envisaged central register to record and or publish names of corrupt government officials must be inclusive. Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi told Parliament recently that progress has been made in developing the register.
He says it will have names of public servants who resign or are fired due to corruption. Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi says going forward, there will be no room for corrupt officials in government.
He says government departments will be required to verify names of appointments against the register before they are finalized. Adding that a similar register will also be developed for municipalities.
“We are closing every room for people who are colluding in as far as corruption is concerned but also, house chair, I think we must begin to move away now from chasing criminals. Our system should not actually attract corrupt people and unethical people,” says Buthelezi.
Cosatu says they welcome the register, however, it must be inclusive, saying it’s about time for big fish to be caught.
“You are not including the minister, you are not including the CEOs of parastatals, so it has to include everybody and often the most serious offences of corruption are done by politicians, by ministers, by MECs, by Premiers and we’ve seen time and again that we seem to have normalized corruption on their part. So, you see those implicated in the Zondo commission that re-appear in parliament as if nothing happened. So, we really want to send a big message to society and society needs to see the big fish are also being held accountable,” says Matthew Parks, Cosatu Parliamentary Coordinator.
Advocacy organization, Accountability Now, says proper implementation of the register can reduce the extent of corruption in government.
“That gives the public and the entire public administration the opportunity of identifying wrongdoers and of avoiding the abuse of office again by simply accepting employment in a different position, in a different part of the country, in a different province or municipalities or national government. This innovation is welcome news. If it is properly implemented and carefully monitored, it presents the opportunity of sincerely curtail the amount of corruption with which South Africans had to put up for far too long,” says Adv Paul Hoffman from Accountability Now.
Buthelezi says the register will be monitored by his department and that there will be consequences for those who will ignore it.
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