The public protector has exposed looting at the highest level by those appointed to manage our national railway system. Although her report is not conclusive, it sheds light on how the rot spreads in our public institutions. It is important that every effort be taken to expose the looters. They must be named, shamed and made to pay back the money.For as long as corruption remains rampant and no action is taken to punish the guilty, the number of people willing to loot our resources will grow.Thuli Madonsela has called for a full forensic investigation into some of the tenders the Passenger Rail Agency of SA has awarded and we, the public, should insist that the police and other law enforcement agencies join the probe.It is only through resolute action that South Africa will be able to deal with the looting so shamefully prevalent in both the public and private sectors.Madonsela's report describes a disturbing pattern of governance systems being ignored and of cronyism and patronage being the norm in the management of Prasa.Sadly, this picture is replicated in other state institutions that are struggling to deliver on their mandate.It is particularly disturbing that Prasa is alleged to have tried to mislead the public protector. Yesterday Madonsela said she had had to claw information out of Prasa - and that some documents appeared to have been doctored."I must also indicate that the authenticity of many documents submitted by Prasa management as evidence, principally relating to procurement, is doubtful. Many were undated, unsigned and, in at least one case, incomplete."As the ANC prepares for its national general council meeting later this year we hope that focus will be placed on how the state fights the culture of looting and how we can put in place measures to detect corruption before it spreads...