​ Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Provincial Government has put in place measures to prevent, detect, investigate and resolve cases or incidents of fraud and corruption while promoting ethical leadership across all departments.  
This has been done by introducing strategic policies, such as Integrity Policy Framework and Anti-Corruption Strategy.
These strategic policy imperatives were supported by the setting up of integrity management units; lifestyle audit pioneering of transparency in public procurement through the Open Tender System and the appointment of the civil society-led Ethics Advisory Council.
The Office of the Premier is also working in collaboration with the Public Service Commission (PSC), Special Investigation Unit (SIU), the Office of the Public Protector, Asset Forfeiture Unit, Commercial Crime Unit and the Office of the Auditor-General in combining efforts to fight corruption and building an ethical public service.
These were revealed by Premier David Makhura when he tabled the Forensic Investigations and the Implementation of Remedial Action and Integrity Management Measures Report to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts [SCOPA] on Thursday. 
The report, which gave an overview of the implementation of the various pillars and elements of the Integrity Policy Framework and Anti-Corruption Strategy revealed that all members of the Executive Council were undergoing lifestyle audits with the State Security Agency in line with the framework developed by the national government.
The process will be completed by the end of November this year, Makhura said. 
"Like vetting of officials, the lifestyle audits are important to ensure that Executive Authorities and public officials uphold high ethical standards of integrity and avoid any potential or actual conflict of interest in the conduct of public affairs."
The next phase of lifestyle audits will involve the Heads of the Department and Chief Executive Officers of GPG entities.
The intention, Makhura said was to extend this process to all the members of the Senior Management Service (SMS) and those officials in high-risk areas.
Vetting of senior members
As part of prevention and detection, the Executive Council has been ensuring that all SMS members and all Supply Chain Officials are vetted. 
According to the report, about 83% of SMS members have either completed vetting or are awaiting the outcome of their vetting while 17% have not applied or submitted their forms.
Makhura said the Integrity Management Unit is working with the SSA to ensure that all outstanding vetting is completed by the end of the financial year while accounting officers have been directed to institute action against officials who resist.
"It is very important that all officials undergo vetting in order to reduce risk or detect potential or actual conflict of interest as well as unethical behaviour," the Premier said.
Institutionalising ethics
Other preventative measures implemented by the province was the deployment of the Audit Command Language for continuous monitoring of compliance to supply chain management legislative frameworks.
Accounting authorities were capacitated by establishing the risk and ethics units which are responsible for coordinating action plans and recommendations emanating from FPP, ACL Reviews, FDR reports and PSC reports. 
Giving practical effect to the constitutional provisions relating to the public service, the province in collaboration with City Region Academy and the National School of Government trained 9537 employees on the Code of Conduct during the 2020/2021 financial year.
To improve the transparency of the provincial procurement process, the Open Tender System has been introduced to minimise the risk of corruption and manipulation of tender processes. 
Criminal charges
Makhura said his office has reported 14 matters to the SIU. 
"Seven complaints from the Gauteng provincial government referred to the SIU and three additional complaints were submitted by whistle-blowers directly to the SIU. Three proclamations were issued."
According to the report, the Department of Health accounted for 89 (32.9%) of the cases that the province received. They are followed by the Department of Social Development with 31 cases, 28 from Roads and Transport, 24 from Education and 14 cases from Infrastructure Development. 
The top five categories of cases reported for investigation in the province involved procurement irregularities, fraud, human resources irregularities, mismanagement of funds and corruption.
There are 147 criminal cases opened, 69 civil claims lodged, 517 disciplinary processes instituted and R616 million being recovered.  
To date, 82.1% of all recommendations coming from different forensic investigations are either fully implemented or being implemented. 
Makhura said he continues to engage MECs and the HoDs on matters of Ethics, Anti-corruption to fast-track the implementation of the outstanding forensic investigation recommendations. 
Protection of whistle blowers
Despite the challenges, including the COVID-19 corruption and the intimidation of whistle blowers, Premier Makhura said the provincial government remains determined to fight against corruption. 
"The protection of whistleblowers and witnesses is now receiving urgent attention at a national level and provincial level," he said commending the invaluable role they play in uncovering the scandals and the lasting change they help bring. 
The Office of the Premier is working with the Gauteng Ethics and Anti-Corruption Council on a Report on the State of Ethics and Integrity Promotion in Gauteng, which will be released publicly at the end of September.​