RUSTENBURG- The North West Provincial Government is taking firms steps to close all loop holes that allow fraud and corruption to take place in the province.Speaking on behalf of the Premier Thandi Modise at the 3

rd North West Anti- Corruption Round Table Conference on Thursday at the Orion Safari Hotel in Rustenburg, Acting Director General, Johannes Rantete said that criminals no longer have a place to hide especially in the public service.

He warned that the Office of the Premier is hard at work to ensure that those that have being getting away with corruption are punished.

“We have taken a decision to centralize legal services in the Office of the Premier to stem the tide of us always losing court cases especially involving fraud and corruption.

We are also taking a firm approach in preventing unnecessary suspension of officials in government, which results in crippling vacancies mostly at senior management level and wasteful expenditure of paying officials who are idling at home,” said Rantete.

He emphasized that while the provincial government places multi sectoral approach at the centre of fighting corruption, it believes that government should give leadership in taking practical steps to stop the scourge of corruption. 

“We are very confident that through our efforts and the work of the Provincial anti-Corruption Forum the battle against corruption will be won,” he said.

Mr Chris Nzenge of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) in the Assets forfeiture Unit warned that those who engage in fraud and corruption will be dealt with accordingly by law enforcement agencies.

“We do understand that organized crime and corruption operates increasingly like business seeking investment opportunities. It is important to be careful if you acquire your millions through the acts of corruption because you will lose everything when we come in including your assets,” he warned.

Director General of the Department of Public Service and Administration, Mr Alex Mahapa all said officials who are involved in corrupt activities must be punished heavily to send a message that corruption will no longer be tolerated in the public service

He warned that public servants must be careful not to be used by business people for the sake of their own personal enrichment.

“Corruption starts with business people giving public servants gifts which then lead to favours towards tenders. We need to be clever as public servants never to be tempted to be engaged in corrupt activities,” he said.

He further cited that a corrupt free public service can build a society that will serve the interest and well-being of future generations.-TDN

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