KZN contracts getting investigated

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating 558 procurement contracts involving R1.9 billion, KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize says.

"The SIU is also investigating 360 cases of conflict of interest where R3.4 billion was involved," Mkhize told an integrity leadership conference in Durban.

Delegates are expected to craft plans to deal with fraud and corruption in the public sector in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mkhize said the province's Integrity Management Unit, which provided strategic leadership for the provincial government on fraud and corruption, was behind arrests for corruption.

"As we speak, the total number of public servants who are facing fraud and corruption charges in the province is 1024."

Mkhize said 755 cases had been reported for prosecution and other cases were at various disciplinary stages.

It had become clear that corruption had long-term negative effects on the efficiency of public investment.

"All corrupt officials and syndicates tend to give priority to projects and activities that generate higher private material and political gains."

Projects with high socio-economic returns were not given priority.

Mkhize said corruption included the theft of social grants by public servants between April 2010 and March 2011.

The provincial education department was dealing with ghost teachers who drew salaries but were no longer employed by government.

Teachers with fake qualifications had also been caught, and some teachers and lecturers were accused of selling examination papers to pupils.

They were also demanding sexual favours in return for good grades.

"Some schools and tertiary institutions have become breeding grounds for a generation that has a weak ethical base. We must unite and stop this slide to mediocrity."

President Jacob Zuma did not attend the conference as scheduled and was represented by Public Service and Administration Minister Roy Padayachie who read out the president's speech.

"We have identified corruption as a key threat to achieving government objectives, he said.

"Our goal is to build a performance-oriented state that is free of fraud and corruption."

Corruption within the public sector undermined the moral authority of the state.

"It inhibits socio-economic development and contributes to delays in delivering services to our people."

The Anti-Corruption Task Team had received 362 cases.

"Out of 362 cases received for investigation, 291 arrests were made, leading to 155 convictions, made up of 77 public officials and 78 members of the public."

The task team identified 42 corruption priority cases and some of them were already before the courts.