Our leaders have turned corruption into an art form

03 December 2014 - 02:09 By The Times Editorial
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Accountability is about the obligation to hold yourself answerable for your activities, accept responsibility for them, and not hide anything.

In this country it is becoming increasingly difficult for the people to get their leaders to answer for their actions.

As we report today, South Africa is almost at the point of no return. Yesterday, Transparency International released its 2014 corruption perception index, which paints a grim picture of how corruption is perceived by South Africans and investors.

Compiled seven months ago, the report ranks South Africa among the countries with "significant corruption problems".

Corruption did not just emerge with our democracy. We have been sliding down for years and now we are among the big boys.

Of the 175 countries surveyed, South Africa ranked 67.

Corruption Watch's David Lewis said this highlighted the erosion of trust in the public sector.

"It's gravely concerning that South Africa has again scored below 50. According to Transparency International, a score below 50 indicates a significant corruption problem, which places South Africa in precarious territory."

In a country with limited resources, it is scandalous that money budgeted for critical projects disappears through corruption and no one is held accountable.

It is shocking that a community clinic operates without lights and no one is held accountable.

Yesterday, a serial rapist who was about to be sentenced escaped after a lapse in court security. No one will lose his job because of this.

H ow can we expect a mere manager to be accountable and accept responsibility when the head of state comes up with ingenious ways, and uses every trick in the book, to escape accountability?

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