Runaway debt a big factor in public service corruption

Garnishee orders and the mushrooming of loan sharks around the mines were cited as being among the reasons for tensions in Marikana, where striking miners were shot dead by the police three years ago.

Today we reveal shocking statistics about the plight of public servants drowning in debt. We are told that one in 12 public servants has a garnishee order against his salary.

According to research by the University of Pretoria's law faculty, about 15.4% of central government workers have emolument attachment orders against them.

The situation in the provinces is better but still worrying. About 10.69% of provincial employees have portions of their salaries attached.

In the private sector, just under 7% of workers are burdened by such orders.

These figures were tabled during a discussion of debt by the SA Human Rights Commission.

If our public servants are so indebted, how can we call on them to act with integrity in serving the nation. They need to make a fast buck to clear their debts, which gives rise to corruption.

An indebted public servant is susceptible to corruption. That is why graft has taken root in national entities and is so difficult to fight.

What emerged from the commission's discussions yesterday is that there is a systems failure in our courts.

Instead of a garnishee order being signed by a magistrate, in many instances it is authorised by the clerk of the court.

What is more troubling is that there seems to be no end date on many of these orders.

The discussions yesterday also revealed a number of instances of people being forced to pay exorbitant fees to service their loans.

A case of a miner was highlighted. He borrowed R1000 but had to pay back R9934 in legal fees and still owed R3084.

The government can legislate and our financial institutions can help us minimise our debt but the responsibility ultimately lies with ordinary South Africans. We should not cling to lifestyles that are beyond our means.