WHILE many local corporates subscribe to tip-off hotlines in their fight against internal fraudulent activities, Corruption Watch on Thursday revealed that the majority of whistle-blowing echoes from the public service sector.
Prominent companies like manufacturer Bell Equipment, local phosphates producer Foskor and freight and logistics group Grindrod all subscribe to Deloitte Tip-offs Anonymous, which provides their employees with a free and nameless reporting channel for unethical behaviour in the workplace.
But civil society organisation Corruption Watch points out in its annual report that African men, aged between 30 and 59, employed in public service were the most forthcoming in outing deceptions in the last two years.
Most complainants (63%) are employed or self-employed, and more than half (56%) of these work in the public sector.
‘Since January 2012, Corruption Watch has received 5 485 reports of alleged corruption and 2 262 of these were reported in 2013,’ according to the statement.
‘The number of cases representing actual corruption – understood as abuse of public power and resources for personal gain – increased from 38% in 2012 to 58% in 2013.’
Bumped up corruption reports are believed to be directly linked to the organisation’s growing popularity.
‘The latest data indicates that people understand that Corruption Watch is here to amplify the public’s voice on abuse of public resources instead of dealing with consumer or labour disputes,’ said Corruption Watch Executive Director David Lewis.
KwaZulu-Natal is currently the province holding the second highest reporting trend between 2012 and 2013 – it is responsible for 13% of all complaints laid to Corruption Watch.
Gauteng is first with 37%, down from 46% in 2012.
Lewis emphasised how South Africans are clearly feeling more assured when exposing fraud and corruption.
‘Most striking was the 59% who said they reported corruption as they felt confident that we were capable of combating corruption.
‘This is consistent with the findings of Transparency International’s 2013 Global Corruption Barometer that 89% of South Africans are willing to join in fighting corruption.
‘We believe there are more people who wish to engage constructively in combating corruption.
‘It is now the right time for us to expand the spaces for people to use their collective voices to speak against corruption and hold leaders accountable,’ said Lewis.
Corruption Watch now offers an online interactive platform built by Concursive Corporation at corruptionwatchconnected.org.
