SIU says corruption has become systemic, calls for stronger controls
The Special Investigating Unit says corruption in South Africa has become systemic and requires a coordinated response from government institutions, law enforcement agencies and public servants.
SIU Acting Chief Operating Officer Zodwa Xesibe says corruption cannot be addressed by targeting individual wrongdoers alone, arguing that weaknesses in policies, internal controls and reporting systems continue to create opportunities for corrupt practices.
Speaking at the quarterly Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum campaign at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, Xesibe said the fight against corruption requires strong institutions, effective law enforcement and consequence management.
"Corruption in South Africa has become systemic. It's not only one individual in a corner. It involves multiple role players."
Xesibe says institutions may have laws, policies and controls in place, but these measures are ineffective if they are not properly monitored and enforced.
She says some employees may also be aware of corruption but remain reluctant to report it because institutions have not created sufficiently safe and effective whistleblowing channels.
The SIU official says government institutions must establish clear reporting and response mechanisms and ensure that employees know where to report suspected fraud and corruption.
"It's pointless to whistleblow and you realize that nobody cares."
Xesibe also raised concerns about the management and preservation of evidence, saying poor record management can undermine investigations and accountability.
She says government needs to adapt its anti-corruption strategies as technology creates both new efficiencies and new opportunities for criminal activity.
"Technology has also created opportunities for digital transactions, e-procurement, identity fraud, data manipulation, and increasingly sophisticated financial schemes which require equally sophisticated detection and investigation from ourselves."
Xesibe is also calling on public servants to take personal responsibility for identifying and reporting corruption in their workplaces.
She has challenged managers and accounting officers to conduct 30-day reviews of their highest-risk areas, identify weaknesses, assign responsibility for addressing them and monitor whether new controls are working.
The SIU says the fight against corruption also requires stronger protection for whistleblowers, with Xesibe warning that employees who expose wrongdoing can face serious personal and professional consequences.
She says public servants should not regard the protection of state resources as the responsibility of specialised law-enforcement agencies alone.
Xesibe says every public servant has a role to play in preventing corruption and ensuring that suspected wrongdoing is reported and acted upon.
"You identify corruption, you report it, and you make all the means to stop it."
The Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum brings together several government agencies involved in border management, law enforcement and anti-corruption work.
The quarterly campaign at OR Tambo International Airport is aimed at strengthening cooperation between these institutions and reinforcing efforts to prevent and combat corruption within the border and immigration environment.
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