There is a surge in service delivery protests and a litany of negative reports on

The Office of the Auditor -General’s role is by no means minor, for it plays a major role in curbing corruption and acts as a ‘’watchdog’’ of the nation over public funds. Amidst high mismanagement and misuse of public resources, as well as corruption, especially in developing countries, the major question one asks is how effective the Auditor -General can be in ensuring good governance within state departments so as to improve service delivery. The gaps between approved budgets and the realisation of policy and development goals stand among key governance challenges in many developing countries. Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) play an important role in holding governments to account. However, many SAIs including AGSA face serious challenges when trying to evaluate the expenditures and performance of government agencies. Therefore this study suggests that more resources should be invested in the office of the AG so as to allow it to carry out its duties without impediments. Good governance and public finance accountability is becoming increasingly important in the public sector. One means of effecting good governance and accountability is through auditing. For this reason the Office of the Auditor-General through the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 (Act 108 of 1996 section 216 (1)) was established to facilitate and encourage good governance and effective accountability through auditing. To this end the study assesses the contribution made by the AGSA in encouraging good governance practices in government departments in the Eastern Cape Province.

Thesis (M. A. (Political Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / State capture in South Africa became the talk of the day in the mainstream media and social media alike. This was the case following state capture report (herein after referred to as ―the report‖) released by former public protector Thuli Madonsela which shed a light about the close relationship between former president Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family. The report alleged that the Gupta family played a role in appointing and offering ministerial positions to those who would bid for them in government procurements and tender awarding. This study seeks to analyse whether or not the state capture controversy in the context of the Zuma-Gupta family is a political manoeuvrings or economic contestations between the business competitors (White establishments and the Gupta family). The existing literature on the state capture narrative looks more at the Gupta family‘s ties with former President Jacob Zuma, highlighting their tumultuous relationship. The dissertation does not justify the Guptas‘ wrongdoings or nepotism, but it showcases that the State Capture narratives has been bolstered by those opposed to economic development. In terms of methodology, the study used qualitative and content analysis to examine the South African state capture debate

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Corruption affects the lives of everyone in South Africa and can thus be characterised as a common enemy. Fraud and corruption especially in the procurement systems is one of the major contributors of annual losses the Western Cape Provincial Government incurs. Since the introduction of computerised procurement systems, also known as e-procurement, the occurrence of fraud and corruption has substantially increased as soon as individuals familiarize themselves with the system. The Western Cape Provincial Government will save a huge amount of money if fraud and corruption could be prevented and limited. These funds could be put to better use and result to better service delivery. The Government has therefore developed many policies and strategies to try to combat and prevent corruption in procurement both in the public and private sector. This study examines the perceptions of key stakeholders on the appropriateness of the strategies in place to prevent fraud and corruption in the provincial procurement system by particularly looking at the achievements and limitations that have been experienced. The focal point is the Western Cape Provincial Treasury since they are currently the owners of the computerised procurement system. The study also includes an assessment of the role of the Western Cape Provincial Treasury in general in fighting fraud and corruption in public procurement. The research methods utilised include a comprehensive review of documentation published by the provincial government with regard to fraud and corruption as well as perceptions of key stakeholders on the appropriateness of anti-corruption policies and strategies in the Western Cape Provincial Government. Government has, in its commitment to fight corruption, established various anti-corruption agencies, developed a number of programmes and introduced numerous legislative frameworks. The Western Cape Government in particular has developed a transversal Anti-corruption Strategy to provide a framework within which to combat fraud, corruption and theft in the province. All provincial departments are encouraged to maintain a zerotolerance against corruption by developing and implementing a Fraud and Corruption policy within their various departments. The proper implementation of the anti-corruption policy is imperative for the prevention of fraud and corruption. Western Cape Provincial Treasury, as the custodian of the LOGIS procurement system in the Western Cape, plays a vital role in promoting compliance to relevant legislation by implementing anti-corruption strategies. It is apparent that different anti-corruption strategies to control and manage fraud and corruption in procurement do exist, but its appropriateness differs from department to department. Anti-corruption strategies will only be successful when it eliminates the occurrence of fraud and when perpetrators are caught and executed. Management should play a vital role in identifying and combating corruption in departments. Employees should be made aware of the consequences if they should commit any fraudulent acts. Furthermore, all officials should be encouraged to report any fraudulent incidents. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Korrupsie beïnvloed die lewens van almal in Suid-Afrika en kan dus gedefinieer word as 'n gemeenskaplike vyand. Bedrog en korrupsie, veral in die verkryging stelsels is een van die grootste bydraers van die jaarlikse verliese die wat die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering aangaan. Sedert die bekendstelling van die gerekenariseerde verkryging stelsels, ook bekend as e-verkryging, het die voorkoms van bedrog en korrupsie aansienlik verhoog sodra individue hulself vertroud maak met die stelsel. Die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering sal 'n groot bedrae geld bespaar as bedrog en korrupsie voorkom en beperk kan word. Hierdie fondse kan op op sy beurt beter aangewend word en kan tot beter dienslewering lei. Die Regering het baie beleide en strategieë ontwikkel om korrupsie te probeer verhoed en te bestry - beide in die openbare en private sektor. Hierdie studie ondersoek die persepsies van belanghebbendes oor die toepaslikheid van die strategieë om bedrog en korrupsie in die provinsiale verkryging stelsel te voorkom deur veral te kyk na die prestasies en beperkings wat ondervind is. Die fokuspunt is die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Tesourie, aangesien hulle tans die eienaars van die gerekenariseerde verkryging stelsel is. Die studie sluit ook 'n evaluering van die rol wat die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Tesourie speel om bedrog en korrupsie in die openbare verkryging stelsel te voorkom. Die navorsingsmetodes wat gebruik is sluit in ‘n omvattende opname van die dokumentasie wat deur die provinsiale regering gepubliseer is met betrekking tot bedrog en korrupsie asook persepsies van belanghebbendes oor die toepaslikheid van anti-korrupsie beleide en strategieë in die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering. In sy verbintenis om korrupsie te beveg, het die regering verskeie anti-korrupsie agentskappe ingestel, 'n aantal programme ontwikkel en talle wetgewende raamwerke bekend gestel. Die Wes-Kaapse regering het in die besonder 'n dwarsleggende Anti-korrupsie strategie ontwikkel om 'n raamwerk te voorsien waarbinne bedrog, korrupsie en diefstal in die provinsie bekamp kan word. Alle provinsiale departemente word aangemoedig om 'n “zero tolerance” teen korrupsie te handhaaf deur die ontwikkeling en implementering van 'n bedrog en korrupsie beleid binne hul onderskeie departemente. Die behoorlike implementering van die anti-korrupsie beleid is noodsaaklik vir die voorkoming van bedrog en korrupsie. Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Tesourie, as die bewaarder van die LOGIS verkryging stelsel in die Wes-Kaap, speel 'n belangrike rol in die voldoening aan toepaslike wetgewing deur die implementering van anti-korrupsie strategieë. Dit is duidelik dat verskillende anti-korrupsie strategieë om bedrog en korrupsie te beheer en te voorkom wel bestaan, maar die toepaslikheid verskil van departement tot departement. Anti-korrupsie strategieë sal slegs suksesvol wees wanneer dit die voorkoms van bedrog elimineer en wanneer oortreders gevang en tereggestel word. Bestuur moet 'n belangrike rol speel in die identifisering en die bekamping van korrupsie in departemente. Werknemers moet bewus gemaak word van die gevolge indien hulle enige bedrieglike dade pleeg. Verder moet alle amptenare aangemoedig word om enige bedrieglike voorvalle aan te meld.

The thesis contributes to the search for sound anti-corruption laws and practices that are effective and fair. It argues for the respect for human rights in the crafting and implementation of anti-corruption laws as a requisite for successful control of corruption. The basis for this argument is threefold: First, human rights provide a framework for checking against abuse of state’s police power, an abuse which if allowed to take root, would make the fight against corruption lose its legitimacy in the eye of the people. Second, human rights ensure that the interest of individuals is catered for in the crafting of anti-corruption laws and practices thereby denying perpetrators of corruption legal excuses that can be exploited to delay or frustrate corruption cases in the courts of law. Third, human rights provide a useful framework for balancing competing interests in the area of corruption control – it enables society to craft measures that fulfils the public interest in the eradication of corruption while concomitantly assuring the competing public interest in the protection of individual members’ liberties – a condition that is necessary if the support of the holders of these competing interests is to be enlisted and fostered in the fight against corruption. The thesis focuses on the study of the non-conviction based assets recovery mechanism, a mechanism that allows the state to apply a procedure lacking in criminal law safeguards to address criminal behaviour. The mechanism is thus beset with avenues for abuse, which if unchecked could have debilitating effects not only to individual liberties but also to the long term legitimacy of the fight against corruption. In this regard, the thesis examines how the human rights framework has been used in Kenya and South Africa to check on the potential dangers of the non-conviction based mechanism and to provide for a proportional balance between the imperative of corruption control and the guarantee against arbitrary deprivation of property. The aim is to unravel the benefits of respecting human rights in the fight against corruption in general and in the non-conviction based assets recovery in particular. Kenya and South Africa are chosen for study because they provide two models of non-conviction based mechanisms with different levels of safeguards, for comparative consideration.

The South African Government in 2002 accepted the Public Service Anti-Corruption Strategy (PSACS) with the objective to reduce the manifestation of malfeasance in the public service. The PSACS identified various goals and objectives to be achieved at both the systemic and departmental levels. At the departmental level, the PSACS set out to increase the institutional capacity of departmental institutions, and encourage the management of risk and of discipline in the public service. Departments are required to establish the necessary capacity to formulate fraud prevention and anti-corruption policies, receive and manage allegations of corruption, and investigate allegations of corruption and detected risks at a preliminary level. To manage ethics departments should inter alia identify early signs of a lack of discipline, improve the accountability and capacity of managers to manage discipline, and encourage managers to act against transgressions. However, various authors have been critical of the formulation of policies and the establishment of structures as a policy response to public service corruption. In their view, such an approach often leads to a reduction in the efficiency and effectiveness of public programmes, and even creates opportunities for corruption. In response to such deficiencies, some argue that a compliance-based approach to public service malfeasance should be supplemented by a value-based approach with an emphasis on the development of internal selfcontrol of individuals, the promotion of trust among employees, and the promotion of a culture of responsibility. In this context, this researcher proposes that the promotion of an ethical culture could enhance the implementation of the PSACS. In this dissertation, this researcher set out to evaluate, among others, the ethical culture of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). It was decided that a survey would be the most appropriate data collection method. A questionnaire was administered and the data was captured, analysed and interpreted. Various statistical tests were performed and the findings suggest inter alia that the promotion of an ethical culture coincides with lower levels of observed malfeasance. Consequently, when greater clarity of operational and ethics policies is obtained, an increase occurs in both the severity and frequency of penalties for malfeasance, and officials gain greater access to resources and time to execute their responsibilities, the level of observed malfeasance is likely to be reduced. The promotion of an ethical culture could significantly enhance the implementation of the PSACS. / Public Administration / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)

The Eastern Cape Department of Education has become like a problem child in the Republic of South Africa. It is a cause for concern to both the provincial and national government. This is a department where service delivery is problematic. Schools are not built or renovated and children are taught in dilapidated structures or sometimes under trees. Hardly a week passes without the department making the headlines in the media for the wrong reasons. It is widely accepted that the department is dysfunctional and education is in a crisis. The department has emerged as the number one culprit of engaging in corrupt activities in the province. Public officials in the department have been identified as being at the helm of these corrupt activities. In the 200/10 financial year, the Auditor General issued a disclaimer to the department and highlighted a lack of direction, accountability and a total breakdown of internal control systems and supply chain management within the department. Numerous fraud risk indicators were identified during the audit and underlined by findings that are indicative of fraud and corruption within the department. This unfortunate state of affairs is contrary to the requirements of section 195(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which provides for the democratic values and principles governing public administration including inter alia, that: A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained. Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted. Public administration must be accountable. This raises several questions about the ethical fitness of public officials in the department as the custodians of the public resources and trust. Though several reasons abound for this unfavourable state of affairs in the department, the researcher has singled out unethical conduct by public officials in the department and its impact on service delivery. The approach followed in this research was to analyse the 2009/10 Department of Education Annual Report and the 2009/10 Auditor General’s Report to the Eastern Cape Department of Education. The analysis confirmed the existence and occurrence of multiple cases of unethical conduct in the department. At the end scientific recommendations are proposed to alleviate this ill.

The research entailed an exploration of the reasons behind corruption and related offences in selected Gauteng police stations of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Corruption refers to the illegal and unlawful activities performed by police officials when they enrich themselves by taking money and other valuable property from offenders, victims and other people they come into contact with. The participants in this study were purposefully chosen and comprised of two groups. The first group included ex-police officials convicted and sentenced for committing corruption and related offences. The second group were active police officials suspected to have committed corruption and related crimes and some in this group were dismissed by disciplinary tribunals. The research was done at four of the police stations in Gauteng Province. There were 18 participants interviewed and nine were chosen from these police stations, with the remaining nine from two correctional facilities in Gauteng. The participants were asked an open-ended question which aimed at exploring convicted police officials’ reasons for having committed corruption. The interviews were recorded with the participants’ permission. The recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analysed. The five main themes that emerged are the high incidence of corruption involving all levels of police, multiple environmental factors which contribute to corruption, forms of corruption, dynamics resulting from corruption and anti-corruption mechanisms to prevent corruption. The themes were described using “in vivo” quotes from the transcribed data. To learn other trends about corruption, the nature and extent of corruption in the political, economic and the governmental sphere were discussed. In the summary of the research recommendations and conclusions were provided. A model has been identified which consists of preventative and reactive mechanisms, including selection, recruitment, the code of conduct, supportive leadership, supervision, mentoring and coaching, targeted inspections and auditing. Life style audits, disciplinary measures, dismissals and prosecution in these corruption case hearings also form part of the proposed model. / Corrections Management / D.Litt. et Phil. (Criminal Justice)

The South African Government in 2002 accepted the Public Service Anti-Corruption Strategy (PSACS) with the objective to reduce the manifestation of malfeasance in the public service. The PSACS identified various goals and objectives to be achieved at both the systemic and departmental levels. At the departmental level, the PSACS set out to increase the institutional capacity of departmental institutions, and encourage the management of risk and of discipline in the public service. Departments are required to establish the necessary capacity to formulate fraud prevention and anti-corruption policies, receive and manage allegations of corruption, and investigate allegations of corruption and detected risks at a preliminary level. To manage ethics departments should inter alia identify early signs of a lack of discipline, improve the accountability and capacity of managers to manage discipline, and encourage managers to act against transgressions. However, various authors have been critical of the formulation of policies and the establishment of structures as a policy response to public service corruption. In their view, such an approach often leads to a reduction in the efficiency and effectiveness of public programmes, and even creates opportunities for corruption. In response to such deficiencies, some argue that a compliance-based approach to public service malfeasance should be supplemented by a value-based approach with an emphasis on the development of internal selfcontrol of individuals, the promotion of trust among employees, and the promotion of a culture of responsibility. In this context, this researcher proposes that the promotion of an ethical culture could enhance the implementation of the PSACS. In this dissertation, this researcher set out to evaluate, among others, the ethical culture of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). It was decided that a survey would be the most appropriate data collection method. A questionnaire was administered and the data was captured, analysed and interpreted. Various statistical tests were performed and the findings suggest inter alia that the promotion of an ethical culture coincides with lower levels of observed malfeasance. Consequently, when greater clarity of operational and ethics policies is obtained, an increase occurs in both the severity and frequency of penalties for malfeasance, and officials gain greater access to resources and time to execute their responsibilities, the level of observed malfeasance is likely to be reduced. The promotion of an ethical culture could significantly enhance the implementation of the PSACS. / Public Administration and Management / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)