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BACKGROUND HISTORY TO THE FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION FORUM
This report is an overview of the measures currently employed by government in South Africa's continuing campaign against corruption. It represents the commitment, ideas, and practical strategies of a wide range of government bodies and law enforcement agencies, and as such it is a resource document, a perspective and a framework emanating from the two anti-corruption conferences of 1998 and 1999.
The most critical element in the fight against corruption is the culture and ethos in government and civil society that should permeate everyday activities. The ethos and culture within government and civil society can be built through communication and training, most importantly, through a process of continual dialogue on ethical issues. In the absence of a positive ethos, even the best rules, systems, procedures and institutions will not be able to curb corruption and unethical behaviour. All sectors invited to actively participate in a shared vision of an integrated, proactive approach to fighting corruption in South Africa attended the two anti-corruption conferences.
CONTEXTUAL OVERVIEW
In October 1997, the National Anti-Corruption Initiatives entered a new phase when a Ministerial Committee consisting of the Ministers of Justice, Public Service and Administration, Safety and Security and Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development was mandated by Cabinet to make recommendations for a National Campaign against Corruption. This became the cornerstone of the Anti-Corruption Strategy in South Africa and in particular in the public service. From this action by Cabinet there flowed a variety of anti-corruption initiatives which culminated in the National Anti-Corruption Summit - 1999. The first step of this process involved holding the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference. The focus of this conference was on seeking ways and means of tackling corruption in the public sector. The intention has always been to include all other relevant sectors of society in a follow up summit.
PUBLIC SECTOR ANTI-CORRUPTION CONFERENCE
The Public Anti-Corruption Conference was held on 10-11 November 1998 in Parliament, Cape Town. The conference was attended by some 200 delegates representing the entire public sector. Participants included Ministers, Premiers, Public Dignitaries and Institutional Representatives with a clearly defined role in relation to corruption, such as the Public Protector, the Heath Commission and the Auditor-General. Representatives from Labour Unions, Local Government and Parastatals also participated. The critical issues emanating from that Conference include:
- A definition of what South Africans understand by corruption was required.
- Renewed commitment of stakeholders to fighting corruption was necessary.
- A process to coordinate anti-corruption activities had to be implemented.
- Resolutions and recommendations for a national campaign against corruption were to be adopted.
SUMMIT PROGRAMME
The National Anti-Corruption Summit took place in Parliament, Cape Town, on 14-15 April 1999. The Summit formed part of a comprehensive programme against corruption which had been developed in terms of an October 1997 decision of Cabinet as indicated earlier. This programme includes the improvement of investigation and prosecution of those involved in corruption, review of legislation, steps to improve management systems and discipline at all levels of government, protection of whistleblowers and witnesses and a national campaign based on concrete issues.
Two hundred and sixty three(263) representatives of the following sectors of South African society attended the Summit.
- Business
- Organized Religion
- NGOs/CBOs
- Financial Services Sector
- Academic Institutions/Professional Bodies
- Media
- Labour
- Public Sector
AFTER THE SUMMIT
In the aftermath of the National Anti-Corruption Summit, South Africans in general (and politicians in particular!) swung into campaigns of a different kind. Most of these revolved around the country's second democratic elections which were held early in June 1999. The new president was quick to commit his new government to a 'partnership with the people' in rooting out corruption from the public and other sectors of society.
The impetus generated at the Summit itself was also carried through to other sectors. The inputs received at the Summit from labour and local government were also being interrogated at various levels. The South African Local Government Association, for example, took a firm stance at its annual congress in July 1999 to support the national anti-corruption campaign, and to develop guidelines to establish a zero tolerance approach and a fraud response to fight corruption. The enthusiasm displayed at the Summit had clearly not dissipated. Much of the national effort was to be the subject of further reflection at the International Anti-Corruption Conference planned for Durban in October 1999. The Commission was itself embarking on a series of workshops to cascade the resolutions of the Summit in all nine provinces and to further develop and inform the national strategy against corruption. It was hoped that this movement forward would gather momentum in the days and months ahead as the Cross-Sectoral Task Team began its work of coordinating the implementation of the Summit resolutions.
THE SUMMIT RESOLUTIONS
The Summit Resolutions formed the backbone of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. They are classified according to three (3) themes as follows:
- Combating and preventing corruption;
- Building integrity; and
- Raising awareness
Soon after the Summit, these Resolutions needed to be systematically implemented, monitored, evaluated and further developed.
Cabinet formally endorsed the Resolutions of the Summit in July 1999. This immediately provided a mandate for the calling of the first preparatory meeting of relevant stakeholders to implement the most pressing Summit Resolution, that is: "to rapidly establish a Cross-Sectoral Task Team (CSTT) to look into the establishment of a National Co-coordinating Structure with the authority to lead, co-ordinate, monitor and manage the National Anti-Corruption Programme. The Public Service Commission is to take responsibility for establishing the cross-sectoral task team".
This is how a thirty (30) member non-statutory Cross-Sectoral National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) was formed to:
- Advise on and at national level, co-ordinate the implementation of sectoral strategies for the prevention and combating of corruption;
- Share information and best practice on sectoral anti-corruption work; and
- Advise sectors on the improvement of sectoral anti-corruption strategies.
The formation and launch of the National Anti-Corruption Forum (by the Honourable Deputy President, J.G. Zuma, in Langa, Cape Town on June 15, 2001), became another milestone in the fight against corruption. It is consistent with the global call to address the problem of corruption from various angles whilst carefully considering the local context, the particular historical, social political and economic conditions of our society within which corruption occurs.
In his keynote address during the launch, the Deputy President reiterated the cross-sectoral commitment to prevent and combat all forms of corruption. He echoed the sentiments expressed by Ministers and Government representatives who met in The Hague at the Global Forum II on May 31, 2001 who were convinced that:
"Examples should be set by government in ensuring the integrity of their officials; by political parties in promoting transparency in their financing; and by the private sector in applying high standards of accountability"
They further stressed that:
"……….Safeguarding integrity is not only a matter of enacting correct laws and establishing an independent effective and efficient judiciary, but may also require in some cases changes in attitude and in long-standing practices".
For further information visit www.nacf.org.za
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