As government increases its efforts to prevent corruption in the public service, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged on Monday that there was still a long way to go to instil a culture of ethics in the public service.

It was recently revealed that about 17 000 public servants had applied for and received the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant meant for South Africans who are struggling financially owing to the pandemic.

Ramaphosa said the “wilful intent” to steal public funds is “unforgivable” and promised that government was increasing its efforts against wrongdoing in the public service.

He referenced the recently launched Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit which will undertake disciplinary action in cases of misconduct in the public service and refer cases to government’s Anti-Corruption Task Team.

“The unit will monitor the conduct of lifestyle audits of public service employees. Where departments identify corruption and unexplained wealth, the cases will be referred to the South African Police Service. The new unit has already begun its work in earnest, helping to identify public servants involved in cases related to Covid-19 procurement, the special Covid-19 grant and Unemployment Insurance Fund fraud,” Ramaphosa said.

He stressed the importance of institutionalising ethics and integrity in the ranks of the public service revealing that the unit will also set norms and standards on ethics, integrity and conduct.

Over 200 people have been trained as presiding officers and initiators as the unit builds department capacity to discipline those found guilty of misconduct.

“As a number of scandals involving public servants illegally benefiting from the state have shown, the process will be difficult and will take some time. We are nonetheless committed to stay the course. A capable state is the foundation for the attainment of all our national priorities. Without improving accountability and promoting ethical conduct, none can be achieved. The vast majority of our public servants are committed, law-abiding and ethical,” Ramaphosa said.

The South African Reserve Bank has kept the repo rate unchanged at 3.5%, in line with economists' expectations.

During a media briefing on Thursday, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said that all members of the Monetary Policy Committee were in favour of keeping the repo rate on hold.

According to the central bank, core inflation is revised higher to 3% in 2021, from 2.9% estimated previously. Headline consumer price inflation for 2021 has been revised slightly higher to 4.4%, up from 4.3%.

The bank revised the growth outlook from 4.2% to 5.3%. This is despite the much larger negative effect on output than was previously estimated from the July unrest, explained Kganyago.

"Our revised estimate for third quarter economic growth is -1.2%, compared to the previous -0.5%. Output in the manufacturing sector fell by 8.0% in July alone. Mining was up 4.1%, while land freight transport fell by 5.0% and retail output was down by 11.2%," he noted.

Ahead of the SA Reserve Bank briefing, the Bureau for Economic Research had expected the growth outlook to be raised above 5%.

However, the July unrest is expect to weigh on the economy. "The July events and the pandemic are likely to have lasting effects on investor confidence and job creation, impeding recovery in labour-intensive sectors hardest hit by the lockdowns," Kganyago said.

GDP is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2022 - down from 2.3% estimated previously - and by 1.8% in 2023, down from 2.4% estimated previously.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has warned South Africans to desist from voting for "smaller parties with no reasonable prospect" of standing toe-to-toe with the African National Congress (ANC), come the local government elections on 1 November.

Steenhuisen made these remarks during a panel discussion held by the party on Thursday in the build-up to its manifesto launch.

He said citizens casting votes for smaller parties only resulted in a situation where there were endless opposition parties unable to tackle the real problem, which was the failings of the ANC in many municipalities across the country.

"Yes, a vote for a smaller party can affect the DA. Let's take for example, a ward where the DA had got a very small majority, but is able to hang on to that seat, then introduce a scenario where these smaller parties are not interested in taking on the ANC, but just want to be an opposition to the opposition, particularly in Gauteng.

"They are not going after the ANC vote, they are trying to weaken the DA and for what purpose, as they won't get enough votes to win the wards resulting in a situation where you end up with an ANC or Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor and one or two councillors from these small parties who are going to sit at the back of the hall for the entire five-year team and do nothing for the same people that voted for them, because politics is a numbers games with only big parties making decisions that will affect communities.

"So, people must be very careful that they are not playing with fire in these elections and voting for a party that has no reasonable chance of making any changes for them. I am warning people in this election: be careful how you vote. Because you could be aiding and abetting the ANC or the EFF by going after the DA and trying to weaken the DA."

The DA leader also revealed that the most glaring change to the DA's manifesto set to be launched on Saturday - compared to those that had preceded it - would be the party's avoidance of playing petty opposition politics and criticising the ANC's shortcomings.

Instead, the DA had chosen to focus its attention on making communities aware of its proven track record in places it had and was currently governing, while also laying out a blueprint on how it could change circumstances for those still under administrations run by the ANC and other parties.

Steenhuisen said, "The manifesto that we will put before South Africans, challenges them not to critique the ANC, but to imagine their town or city in a post-ANC world where the DA is in power."

"The great thing about our offer in this election is we are talking about ourselves; we are talking about our unique selling proposition which is that where we govern, we get things done. Government's own reports, analysis and ratings indexes all prove that where the DA governs, they govern well.

"We want to bring that change to small towns, to cities and metros across the entire country. And the manifesto we will deliver on Saturday is essentially our blueprint of how we will change people's situations in their communities," said Steenhuisen.

He added that the advantage the DA had, was the fact that it was no longer only an opposition party, but a party that governed certain municipalities and metros, meaning it had done an evidence-based exercise and that the party was aware of what had worked where it governed.

This was echoed by DA Head of Policy Siviwe Gwarube who said that having also had the chance to govern in various municipalities across the country "has given us an advantage to highlight those things that we are already putting into practice, meaning we are speaking from experience when we say in order to fix a crisis of this particular nature this is what needs to be done".

"One of the most exciting things for us is to bring our experience to the fore, when dealing with water shortage. South Africa is clarified as a water scarce country and for a voter, there can...

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo called on South Africans who are unable to travel to voting stations on voting day to apply for special votes.

The 2021 local government elections will be held on November 1.

Voters with physical infirmity or disability, or those who will be away from their voting districts on election day, can choose to vote at a voting station or during a home visit.

Applications for special votes opened on September 20 and will close at 17:00 on October 4.

Mamabolo appealed to those who will be working on November 1 – such as police officers, nurses, doctors and members of the media – to apply for special votes.

If the application is approved, this category of voter will cast their ballots at their voting station of registration or at home on October 30 or 31.

On the day of special votes, approved voters must present a green bar-coded Identity Book, a smart Identity Card or a valid temporary identity certificate.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala and the Resident Coordinator and Head of the United Nations in South Africa Nardos Bekele-Thomas signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that identifies priority areas in which the province and the UN will collaborate to assist communities and entities that were affected by the civil unrest in the province in July.

The MoU is also aligned to provincial priorities and the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) which are aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2020-2025.

As agreed between the two parties, the immediate actions consist of an Emergency Response Plan addressing the impacts of the unrest, including the medium to long-term actions which focus on proactive measures that address the underlying causes of the civil unrest.

“We gather on the eve of South Africa’s Heritage Day to sign a historic memorandum of understanding between the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal and the United Nations to declare for our country and the world that by working together we can build a proud legacy and a heritage that future generations will be proud to inherit,” Zikalala said.

Zikalala said that the partnership with the UN was part of provincial efforts towards building enduring peace and advancing sustainable development.

“We wish to assure the UN and its agencies that KwaZulu-Natal is home to you and we welcome you with open hands on this journey of supporting development and peace in this beautiful and legendary province,” he said.

During a walk about, Bekele-Thomas and her team interacted with affected communities in the province and stakeholders and discussed the potential support that the UN could contribute to ongoing response efforts.

The mission consisted of various meetings with the provincial leadership, the political and administrative leadership of eThekwini metro, the executive management team of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (Accord) and visits to the sites impacted by the civil unrest.

These engagements identified areas where the UN could provide support to the KZN provincial government in the immediate, medium and long term to recover and build back.

“As we strengthen our law enforcement and put in place plans to mitigate future occurrences, we also agree that we need to get to the root causes of anti-social behaviour in KwaZulu-Natal and indeed in our country. In this regard, we share the sentiment by the UN Resident Coordinator that, ‘People need a stake in the economy because then they will protect it not destroy it’. We appreciate that the UN has pledged its support to the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal to assist in rebuilding affected communities and to address the underlying causes of the complex developmental landscape in the province,” Zikalala said.

He went on to say that the UN and its agencies would be an important player in defeating the coronavirus and reduce its impact on citizens.

“Our efforts will support KZN’s Vision 2030 which is a prosperous province with a healthy, secure and skilled population, acting as a gateway to Africa and the world. We have undertaken that the joint work carried out by the provincial government and UN will be channelled through the Emergency Response Plan, and the Implementation Framework between the UN and the Office of the Premier,” Zikalala explained.

He said he was also pleased that the MoU was informed by the need to support a post-Covid recovery and developmental trajectory that is environment-friendly and sustainable, in line with the ethos of a green recovery, the promotion of low carbon emissions and supporting climate resilient development.

“We have no doubt that our partnership with the UN and all its entities will enable KwaZulu-Natal to maximise mutual benefits for our residents and citizens,” he ended.

African National Congress (ANC) deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte announced on Thursday that 46% of the party’s candidates for proportional representational (PR) councillors and ward councillors are women.

She said the party was proud that women gained the confidence of their communities to be selected as ward councillor candidates.

Duarte was briefing the media on the status of the ANC councillor candidate registration process for the 2021 local government elections which are to be held on November 1.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) extended its deadline for political parties and independent candidates to register for the local government elections from its initial date of August 23 to September 21 after the ANC and other political parties failed register candidates by the initial deadline.

The ANC has registered 4 468 ward candidates, with candidates registered for 257 municipalities.

“Although women candidates are mainly found on our PR list, we are proud of the fact that women gained the confidence of their communities to be selected as ward councillor candidates as we all know that this is the year we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of Charlotte Maxeke,” said Duarte.

She went on to say that it was encouraging that women were affirmed but added that there was more to be done as many were still selecting men to be ward councillors.

Duarte stated that the party also had a diverse list of candidates representing people with disabilities, members of the LGBQTI community, as well as various community leaders.

There were also a number of young people on the list, with the youngest being 20 years old contesting in the Buffalo City Metropolitan. Johannesburg and Kouga local municipalities also have young candidates.

“We have insisted that the list must have a component of young people. Approximately 25% of our list is composed of young South Africans so that we can build for the future. I think they will bring a lot of new thought and new life into the local government sphere,” Duarte said.

CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE PARTY’S INTERNAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

Duarte admitted that the party had many disputes that were unresolved but said it was committed to meeting with those involved after the elections to discuss and debate the concept of community involvement and being a servant of the people.

She said the party was aware that within its ranks there were people who were determined to subvert and undermine ANC rules and guidelines.

“I do want to say to you that it’s important that we also reaffirm that the ANC’s election committee ran the processes independently… Our task was to support in whatever way needed ... and this gives this process quite a great deal of independent credibility, but with it also comes a number of questions from people who did not want to go this route,” she said.

Duarte said there were branch leaders who still felt that they should have been the candidates whether the community agreed or not.

Meanwhile, three ANC supporters were killed in a drive-by shooting in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal during the party’s nomination process.

Duarte also mentioned that a number of people were removed from the list.

The corruption trial of former South African president Jacob Zuma has been postponed to October 26, the presiding judge said on Wednesday.

Judge Piet Koen said he will try to deliver judgement then on Zuma's plea to have the lead prosecutor, Billy Downer, removed from a case he has been involved in for almost two decades because of perceptions that Downer was biased and not impartial.

"I will try and hopefully have the judgment ready by then," Koen said before adjourning the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

The trial over a 1990s deal was meant to start in May, but has been postponed a number of times due to legal arguments and Zuma's unavailability.

Zuma, 79, and suffering from an undisclosed illness, was absent from proceedings at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday and Wednesday. Zuma had surgery in August, but it is not clear what the surgery was for.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering related to the acquisition of military equipment.

In particular he is accused of receiving kickbacks over a 1999 deal with French arms group Thales in exchange for protecting the company from investigation. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and Thales has denied wrongdoing.

On July 7, Zuma was jailed for failing to cooperate with a separate corruption probe, precipitating some of the worst riots and looting the country has seen since the end of white minority rule in 1994. More than 300 people were killed and thousands of businesses looted.

On Friday the Constitutional Court dismissed a bid by Zuma to overturn his 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court after he ignored instructions to participate in a corruption inquiry.

Minister of Public Service and Administration Ayanda Dlodlo has launched a government unit aimed at rooting out corruption through encouraging and protecting whistleblowers in the public service.

Speaking on Monday during the launch of the unit, Dlodlo said the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit would play a critical role in terms of government reaching its objectives as stated in the 2018 National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).

The NACS was developed by President Cyril Ramaphosa shortly after he assumed the presidency, in an effort "to create a South Africa that is free from corruption, based on the values of integrity, transparency and accountability, respect for the rule of law, and zero tolerance for corruption".

Building on the key tenets of this vision, the Constitution and anti-corruption legal framework, Dlodlo said the unit would, "...contribute to the building of an ethical leadership, to professionalise the public administration, and to establish a culture of reporting and whistleblowing, while its main aim would be to institutionalise ethical conduct in public administration."

According to Dlodlo, the establishment of the unit was an important step in addressing corruption and to encourage workplace ethics as it highlighted to all public servants ensuring an ethical work environment was the responsibility of all employees, not just a select few.

"Section 195 of the Constitution requires the maintenance and promotion of a high level of professional ethics in the public administration. This not only speaks to the role of public servants performing their work in an efficient and ethical way, but also for those in leadership positions to act ethically at all times," she said.

She added that "any anti-corruption and professionalisation initiative must allow employees to blow the whistle on corruption and for the protection of whistleblowers".

"The death of [whistleblower] Ms Babita Deokaran highlights the imperative to increase awareness amongst employees on whistleblowing, to bolster early detection of corruption and criminal conduct.

"It is time that we revisit South Africa's whistleblowing regime and examine it vigorously, not only the legislation and its effectiveness, but also the lack of a single repository that can be used for research to strengthen the system and practice. We also need to interrogate the lack of cooperation across government to protect whistleblowers and we have to identify the bullies abusing their power to stop whistleblowing from happening," said Dlodlo.

The minister said the establishment of the unit also ensured that government professionalised the public service "by setting norms and standards on ethics, integrity and discipline management and to strengthen its oversight of ethics, integrity and discipline".

"It is my view, that the unit will be an integral cog in the anti-corruption machinery of government, and an important instrument to address corruption, fraud and unethical conduct in the public administration."

Dlodlo said the unit was one of many initiatives the government was using in its bid to stamp out corruption.

"Our government has put several programmes in place for this purpose, directed by a National Development Plan. This plan envisages a South Africa with reduced levels of corruption by 2030, to be achieved through the National Anti-Corruption Strategy that serves as South Africa's blue print to tackle corruption. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy is a contract between the whole of society and will focus on addressing the root causes of corruption so that the citizens of South Africa can see a real change," said Dlodlo.

She added that through the unit, the government envisioned an entity that would "successfully detect and investigate cases of corruption, with a view to prosecute, convict and incarcerate perpetrators".

Dlodlo pointed out that significant strides had already been made, amongst others, to address t...

Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini made her first appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday to face a case of perjury.

The case relates to her testimony during an inquiry the Constitutional Court had instituted into her role in the 2017 social grants crisis.

The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) president appeared briefly and the matter was postponed to October for docket disclosure.

News24 reported in August that the Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng had decided to criminally prosecute Dlamini for perjury and that summons had been issued for her to appear in court on 21 September.

Background

Judge Bernard Ngoepe chaired the inquiry into Dlamini's role in the social grants crisis. The inquiry investigated whether Dlamini should be held personally liable for the costs in the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) debacle.

The judge found that Dlamini had been evasive when questions were put to her during the inquiry, News24 reported.

In his report, Ngoepe stated that Dlamini would "unjustifiably answer with 'I don't know/remember' to important questions".

"She would simply not answer some of the questions. Instead of answering the questions, she told counsel to proceed to the next one. She gave long answers, which did not speak to the question asked.

"... I simply could not understand why the minister was not properly answering such a simple question," Ngoepe said in an earlier report.

Dlamini is due back in court on 1 October.

Former president Jacob Zuma continues to be monitored by prison officials while on medical parole, a KwaZulu-Natal Department of Correctional Services (DCS) official said outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday.

"Mr Zuma was granted medical parole, but he remains in hospital as he requires in-hospital care until doctors discharge him. He has been enrolled in community corrections system meaning that as a parolee he will be monitored by our officials until such time that the sentence expires," DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said.

Nxumalo was speaking outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court where lawyers for the State and Zuma, as well as the national commissioner of correctional services Arthur Fraser, appeared before Judge Piet Koen.

Fraser previously took a decision to release Zuma, saying the former president had declared his comorbidities, and that he was frail and required specialised treatment.

Nxumalo said Fraser and other senior officials were summoned to court to speak on Zuma's medical parole issue.

"I can confirm that Mr Arthur Fraser, Kenneth Mthombeni (acting regional commissioner for KZN DCS) and Mpumi Hadebe, head of Estcourt facility were subpoenaed by the NPA. They were subpoenaed for many areas of interest."

"What I can disclose is that the matter surrounds access to medical records for the former president Mr Jacob Zuma."

Zuma failed in his bid to have his 15-month sentence for contempt overturned.

The Constitutional Court dismissed his application to rescind his contempt of court order, describing it as "litigious skulduggery".

No supporters outside court for Zuma

There were no supporters for Zuma outside court on Tuesday, with a large police and media presence the only sign of his proceedings continuing.

Zuma supporters often swarm the area outside the court house, but have often stayed away from proceedings when Zuma failed to attend.