Kweneng launch whistle blowing policy
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday September 22, 2014 16:46
Speaking at the Whistle Blowing Policy and Tip-off Anonymous service launch in Mogoditshane, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) head Rose Seretse said Kweneng had not been cooperative.
“In 2010, the DCEC conducted a study focusing on KWDC procurement procedures. The findings of the study included among others, unnecessary purchases where materials will be bought and not used, deviation from procurement plans, split orders to avoid the threshold, repeated suppliers where same suppliers were the only ones dominating the council,” said the DCEC director.
“There was also inconsistency in application of rules for example a company might be denied a tender for the same reasons the other one would be awarded a tender and in some instances deviation from laid down procedures,” she said. Seretse said any deviation from procedures is a corruption opportunity. She said they developed recommendations for implementation by the council.
She also encouraged the audience to use the Anti-Corruption Unit implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Government saying that it is equipped with officers who have an investigation background. She pointed out that these officers conduct preliminary investigations and refer matters that require indepth investigation to either DCEC or the police.
Furthermore, she added that research shows 40 percent of fraud detected is through hotlines and tip offs. Even though the investigation is a very lengthy process, the turnaround time is reasonable, she said.
Seretse urged employers to be cooperative during investigations and not to fire or transfer employees because they suspect them of reporting them as it is a criminal offence earning a jail term not exceeding five years, fine a not exceeding P10,000 or both.
For his part, the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Gaolatlhe Matlhabaphiri commended KWDC for the initiative saying that it would address corruption practices and promote transparency.
He said the initiative would enable employees, clients and community to act on their suspicions by exposing possible fraudulent practices. He added that it serves as a strong deterrent against maladministration and corruption at the workplace.
“This will undoubtedly help to promote a culture of honesty and integrity not only within the council, but also the community it serves. Corrupt practices do not only undermine our moral values but also distort markets and erode public confidence in the rule of law and process of governance,” he said.
He noted that corruption could threaten the progress of the nation.
He said the seriousness of the problem and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and rule of law. Matlhabaphiri said the policy provides guidance and assure accountability on the part of all public employees, councillors and Village Development Committee (VDC) members.
“The convention underscored the importance of adopting a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to prevent and combat corruption, which has been described as a trans-national phenomenon that affects all societies and economies,” he added.