Address by the Honorable Premier, Ms Noxolo Kiviet, at the 2nd Session of the Anti-Corruption Learning Network, 30-31 July 2009.

Summerstrand Inn Port Elizabeth 30 July 2009

Greetings Honorable Minister of the Department of Public Service & Administration Members of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Forum & Council Directors General and Heads of Department Representatives of the Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee Distinguished ladies and gentlemen

On this occasion of the Second Session of the Anti-Corruption Learning Network, I wish to express my pleasure of being part of a public service that is caring towards the citizens that we serve. On behalf of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government I further wish to express our unwavering commitment to uprooting corruption in all structures and systems of government. I am indeed honored to be part of this momentous occasion and to co-host this brilliant initiative, the Anti- Corruption Learning Network.

Today in South Africa, we hardly open a newspaper without being confronted by reports relating to a wide range of unethical activities, from lowest levels of municipal service delivery to the highest echelons of government and public enterprises.

However, South Africans have not met this challenge with apathy. There is a growing realization that if we do not stem out the tide of corruption, then the dream of a free and prosperous South Africa will not materialize and the entire

1 hope of a better life for all will be difficult to realize. Most fundamentally, our young democracy will be at stake

In order to give effect to our resolve to uproot corruption in all its forms and manifestations government passed various pieces of legislations that are aimed at curbing corruption and crime, for example:

• Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) No. 1 of 1999000 • Public Service Act (PSA) OF 1999 • Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PCCA) No. 12 of 2004 • Public Service Code of Conduct

This significant strengthening of the legislative arsenal has seen a gradual build up of corruption combating infrastructure, especially with regards to investigation and prosecuting of fraud and corruption offences. In addition, concerted efforts are made to establish adequate anti-corruption capacity in all state departments and public entities.

Conditions for effectively combating corruption in the province

The province held two anti-corruption summits to galvanise the broader society in the battle against corruption. The last summit, in line with the Second National Anti-Corruption Summit, agreed on four key strategic objectives in the fight against corruption, namely: • Raising ethical awareness in the provincial public service. In this regard the Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the Premier has embarked in number of awareness and training in programs targeted at public servants through-out the province. In order to foster a greater culture of ethical behavior and corporate governance we need to intensify ethics training as critical part of the awareness program.

2 • Preventing and combating corruption. Provincial departments are steadily moving towards establishing the minimum anti-corruption capacity. We need to move with great speed in this area if we are to effectively prevent and combat corruption. We urge that all public entities to also establish this capacity using the minimum anti-corruption capacity guidelines approved by the Executive Council. • Strengthen oversight, transparency and accountability. There has been great improvement in establishing a proactive, supportive and collaborative relationship between the provincial legislature and the provincial executive. Departments should implement timeously the resolutions and recommendations of the legislature. • Strengthen the Provincial Anti-Corruption Forum & Council. The function of the forum is to galvanise the support of the general public through anti-corruption campaigns. It also provides leadership in the anti- corruption initiatives. Honorable MEC Penny Majodina has been appointed to chair this multi-sectoral body. The Council which is chaired by the Director-General formulates anti-corruption policies in the province and monitors the implementation thereof.

In order to achieve these strategic objectives there are three vital elements or conditions that make up an effective battle against corruption, without which such endeavors will not succeed. These elements are:

• High level of commitment from the top echelons of government • Investment in the building of corruption prevention infrastructure • Implementation and management of the infrastructure with the aim of effecting ethical culture in the public service.

In the province the first condition is met by appointing a member of the Executive Council to chair the Provincial Anti-Corruption Forum and have all MECs in the Cabinet Committee on Governance as members of this body. The second

3 condition is fairly, particularly with efforts to establish minimum anti-corruption capacity in departments as well as policy framework. However, there is a serious challenge with regards to the third element. Although these conditions need to be sustained in tandem, there is a chronological and logical sequence to them. Simply put, you need sincere commitment from the top echelons of government before you get the resources to build the required infrastructure, and without the support of the executive and the necessary infrastructure, all attempts to achieve ethical public service is severely compromised.

In this instance, commitment is defined as acknowledging the existence of the risk of corruption, recognizing that preventing and combating corruption are management and leadership responsibilities, and thus making available human and material resources. This acknowledgement is especially valuable particularly with the understanding that corruption should not only be treated as a criminal issue but also as a human rights issue as it robs the most vulnerable elements of our society of their basic human needs. .

In conclusion, all our efforts to prevent and combat corruption remain guided by the vision to create a national democratic society. To build a democratic society, it requires that as public servants and citizens, we make use of all the necessary capabilities we have to deal effectively with all the social and economic forces that continue to bedevil our country. We can hope to enjoy the benefits gained from our democratic dispensation if we allow an environment that is anomalous to our democratic values to thrive unperturbed. It is against this backdrop, that I would like to urge every public servant to find and use all possible mechanisms to uproot corruption from the public sector and other parts of society

As public servants, you are indeed at the cutting edge of public policy. We have all contributed and participated in the formulation and design of various policies aimed at transforming the public service. We have now entered a stage that

4 requires a result-based implementation of policies. It is the initiatives like Anti- Corruption Learning Network that will see us steaming full speed to implement our policies and programs

This Learning Network provides a platform where vibrant ideas will be exchanged. Our public sector needs all sorts of creative and innovative ideas to implement our anti-corruption measures. The wealth of knowledge that is going to flow from each one of us here should enable us to seek excellence. Excellence requires that all of us share ideas and test them out to see if they work. If they work best for us, we must of course share them with our fellow practitioners to advance excellence.

Finally, I wish to express my appreciation to everyone here this morning for being part of this significant event. We are presented with a platform where we can listen and learn some of our best practices in the public sector. I hope that when we leave this venue tomorrow we do so knowing that there is a rich and competent network of like-minded public officials that we can revert to when we need advise and support. Lessons, whether negative or positive, are equally important. I trust we will do our best to make this, the Second Session of the Anti- Corruption Learning Network a resounding success.

I thank you.

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