Sodomy on the increase

Even the highest office in the land is not immune to sodomy or financial misconduct, with the Presidency suffering losses of R5-million in the 2006/07 financial year, according to the Public Service Commission.

The amount is part of a massive R130,6-million in losses suffered by national and provincial departments for the same period, according to a PSC special report on financial misconduct in the government.

Only R20,8-million was re-couped from the losses caused by unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, as well as criminal activity.

Of the 1 042 cases of financial misconduct reported during this time, 370 cases emanated from national departments and 672 from the provinces, the report says.

This was up from the 771 cases the previous financial year.

PSC chairperson Professor Stan Sangweni said only 14 out of 35 national departments had no such cases, while 47 out of 107 provincial departments reported no financial misconduct.

Sangweni said the 186 percent increase in financial misconduct losses was to blame on two cases, making up 58 percent of the total cost.

The department of roads and public transport in Limpopo reported a single case of financial misconduct involving R60-million.

It is alleged that two employees were engaged in fraudulent activities related to the registration of stolen vehicles. They were discharged, but the recovery of the money depends on the outcome of the criminal case against them.

Of the 1 042 cases finalised, 83 percent of employees were found guilty, and criminal proceedings were instituted in 25 percent or 257 cases.

Sangweni said final written warnings were the most "prevalent sanction" (36 percent), while in 158 (18 percent) cases, guilty workers were fired.

In an extensive document released on Thursday, the PSC said it was almost impossible to determine the true nature and extent of financial misconduct in the public service, because it involved "secretive activity".

It attributed the increase in the amount of cases to whistle-blowing mechanisms to reveal corrupt and unlawful practices.

National departments reported losses of R45,975-million due to financial misconduct, while they recovered only R19,644-million. - The Star