Public servants 'just a bunch of thieves'

Welcome to a career in the public service, in which the perks include privileged access to lucrative business deals and lots of easy money.

This is how some young South Africans see a job in the government, according to a study by the Institute for Security Studies.

Their perception has been formed by the lack of accountability of senior officials and politicians, and the frequency of reports of the government being used as a cash cow.

Many people, disillusioned by state corruption, are turning to the church and community organisations as avenues for contributing to the good of society.

The Institute for Security Studies study is based on interviews with nearly 2000 young tertiary level students across the country between February and August last year. The students came from a variety of social and economic backgrounds.

Lead researcher Lauren Tracey said: "Our preliminary findings are that youths are very aware of corruption and the impact it has on their future."

The research found that many of those interviewed had experienced corruption at municipal level.

"Some of the comments were quiet shocking," said Tracey. "We knew we would pick this up, but not to this extent."

One 19-year-old Mpumalanga student said: "I want to use the money just like Zuma is using it."

A Limpopo student said: "I would like them to stop doing corruption. There is a saying that 'a leader leads by example'. If they engage in corrupt activities, it means that we, too, can engage in corruption."

Last year's National Victims of Crime Survey stated that the number of households that had reported being asked for a bribe had increased from 4% in 2012 to 10% last year. In the same survey, 43% of households interviewed believed it was pointless to report corruption because "nobody cared".

"Some said they didn't know how to fight corruption, so why should they vote?" said Tracey. "They said they would rather do church and community work."

The institute's findings echoes those of Corruption Watch, which has also interviewed young South Africans fed up with graft.

Corruption Watch CEO David Lewis said the nation's young could turn the tide against corruption.

He said: "We feel the young are not inclined to accept that things can't be changed."

He said the young had often played an important role in changing South African society.