Question NW273 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration
26 March 2020 - NW273
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
What mechanisms does his department have in place to (a) track and monitor public servants under investigation for corruption and fraud in each government department, (b) record the outcomes of the investigations into corruption and fraud, (c) notify all departments that an individual has been found guilty of corruption but not imprisoned, to ensure that the individual is not employed in any other department and (d) notify all departments of the allegations against an individual who resigns from a position before the finalisation of an investigation to ensure that the individual is not employed in any other department while not cleared of the allegations?
Reply:
The DPSA recognises the seriousness of public service employees involved in fraud and corruption and is putting the necessary processes in place. In doing so, it must be kept in mind that corruption and fraud investigations are the sole mandate of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and that of discipline management the mandate of the respective heads of department. As such, discipline management is inherently a decentralised process.
In terms of section 15 of the Public Administration Management Act, 2014 (PAMA), misconduct emanating from criminal investigations is a DPSA responsibility. It is therefore envisaged that the newly established Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit will establish a central disciplinary database to monitor, track and record public servants under investigation for misconduct which may include corruption and fraud.
As such, the Unit will play an important role (as contemplated in section 15(4)(f) of the PAMA) to coordinate the involvement of the two identified stakeholders in a decentralised process, so as to able to paint a holistic picture regarding the involvement of public service employees in fraud and corruption.