Whistle-blowers to be given incentives

PUBLIC Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet says government was working to incentivise whistle-blowers who report corruption matters.

Answering oral questions in the National Assembly, Kiviet said the Public Service Commission had requested that an environment be created which protects whistle-blowers.

“We are busy in preparation for an international forum which discusses issues of anti-corruption.

“We are discussing the issue of incentivising whistle-blowers whose cases get proven and there is recovery of either funds or if that case has been found to have an impact on the good of society.

“We are discussing now, as I am speaking, about those measures of incentivising whistle-blowers,” she said.

Kiviet said the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH), which was established in September 2004, was the only hotline approved by Cabinet and housed at the Public Service Commission.

“The hotline has a case management system that is utilised to manage

corruption cases lodged with NACH. It also managed referrals and feedback,” she said.

Kiviet added that the NACH provided a one-stop mechanism for members of the public to report acts of corruption as well as created an opportunity for different players to cooperate better in receiving and handling allegations of misconduct in a safe environment as they report anonymously.

The NACH has had cases reported to it that ranged from fraud, bribery,

nepotism, procurement irregularities, RDP houses related corruption and social grant fraud.

“Since inception, that hotline received 28 232 cases, of those, 24 817 have been closed. There were 3415 that are still outstanding.

“It is encouraging to note that there is an increase (in the number of cases reported).

“Six hundred and two (cases) were reported in the first year and last year 2118 cases. It shows confidence in the system.”

Asked whether President Cyril Ramaphosa’s promise to fight fraud was a lie when only R6 million was recovered from R15 billion lost in financial misconduct by civil servants, Kiviet said corruption was an issue the ANC-led government was determined to fight.

She also said all systems were set up to ensure corruption was dealt with in terms of laws that were enacted.

“No one individual, especially in the person of the President, who is charged with responsibility to ensure the system functions, can be said to have lied when we are reporting results of those structures.”

Asked about the compensation of employees projected in the 2023 medium-term budget policy statement to grow from R689 billion to over R804 billion in 2026/27, Kiviet said the consolidated public sector wage costs was inclusive of national and provincial departments and public entities.

“The wage bill is funded from the overall allocated funds.”

When asked whether South Africa’s wage was beyond the norms and standards of other developing countries as it dropped from 35% to 31% of the overall budget, Kiviet said the Cabinet has taken a decision to manage the wage bill.

“It has categorically stated that cost containment must not compromise service delivery and delivery of development projects.

“It is not a case of reducing the wage bill but a strategic approach to ensure there is synergy across government in all departments and entities.”

She said work was progressing regarding conducting skills audits within the public service to align it to remuneration and skills.

Kiviet said her department was working with the National School of Government and Centre for Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to ensure there was some neutrality in the process.

“Once done, we will share the results with honourable members in the House,” she said.

In February, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he has ordered a skills audit of all government departments in the public service.

Speaking during his reply to the State of the Nation Address (Sona) debate, Ramaphosa said he had given the departments nine months to do the audit.

“We are taking steps to professionalise the public service across all spheres, to ensure the right people are in the right positions, that they are held accountable, and that they are empowered to provide the best possible service to the people,” he said.