AS the world celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day today, 9 December, eThekwini Municipality reiterates its commitment to eradicating fraud and corruption from the organisation.
Numerous strides have been made in this regard, from the establishment of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) and an independent Audit Committee who hold municipal officials accountable for any behaviour out of line with policy and procedure, to the City Integrity and Investigations Unit who investigate complaints of fraud and corruption within the organisation.
The Audit and Risk Management Services have also stepped up efforts to ensure that a clean administration and good governance prevails.
Mayor James Nxumalo said the municipality is committed to stamping out corruption from within its ranks and has employed a zero tolerance stance against all those who attempt to defraud the organisation and bring it into disrepute.
Harsh measures are in place to dissuade this form of misbehaviour.
“Corruption impacts negatively on service delivery and affects the poor. It undermines human rights, good governance, hampers economic growth and rob essential services of badly needed funds.
I call on our staff, communities, and the business sector, to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity and break the chain of corruption. Eliminating corruption and its harmful impacts will be crucial to our future well-being and sustainability of the municipality,” said Nxumalo.
Fraud, corruption, maladministration, and human rights violations within the municipality must be reported to the City Integrity and Investigations Unit.
Call the toll free line on 0800-202020 or complaints can be emailed to ombuds@durban.gov.za. The unit is based on the 10th floor, Rennies House, 41 Margaret Mncadi Avenue, Durban.
The public can be assured that all reports are treated with the strictest confidentiality and with discretion.
To report acts of fraud and corruption against councillors of the municipality, contact the Speaker’s office on 031-311-2002.