The Cape Times report by Baldwin Ndaba that more than 700 senior government managers had failed to declare their business interests and directorships in both private and public companies is outrageous. This finding was made by the Public Service Commission.
Civil society, political parties and the media should join the PSC in demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa and each provincial premier take swift and decisive action against the 721 transgressors of regulation 19 of the Public Service Regulation, 2016.
The PSC disclosed that 485 of those found out were serving in national government and 236 in the provincial government. As directors-general, chief directors and directors, these officials were strategically placed to influence tenders and allow for the state capture projects to continue unhindered.
From my days as a member of Parliament 14 years ago I was deeply concerned about the number of PFMA infractions that were taking place and absolutely astonished at just how many tenders were routinely signed off outside its strictures.
On October 28, 2011, Mosiuoa Lekota asked the minister of finance: “(1) Whether the government has any system in place to ensure that tenders that were approved are randomly or systematically evaluated by an authority set up for this purpose; if not, why not; if so,(2) whether such an authority determines that the tender (a) complied with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Act 1 of 1999, (b) was advertised, (c) was submitted by a person or company that was fully tax compliant, (d) offered value and proven expertise and (e) had no conflict of interest? NW4004E
The reply was: (1) A Multi-Agency Working Group (Mawg) was established during 2009 to investigate supply chain management (SCM) related fraud and corruption. Furthermore, a Special Audit Services was established within the National Treasury which works hand-in-hand with the Mawg and other organs of state to, among others, investigate alleged abuse of the tendering system.
Arising from this experience, further steps will be taken to enhance institutional capacity to have a more vigorous oversight over major procurements.
Through the entire Zuma period, the rot deepened and that is why an astonishing 721 very senior officials can brazenly cock a snook at the law. All of us must pursue this matter so that the transgressors are brought to book.