President Cyril Ramaphosa says his government will crack the whip and punish public servants who benefited irregularly from the COVID-19 social grant relief.
Recently, Parliament learnt that more than 16 000 government employees submitted applications for the R350 grant meant for the poor, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strike the international community.
In his weekly letter, Ramaphosa says they have launched new Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit – which will ensure that there is an institution of disciplinary proceedings in cases of misconduct and cooperate with other organs of state in holding those responsible to account.
“The unit will refer corruption cases to government’s Anti-Corruption Task Team and follow up with departments to ensure criminal cases involving public servants translate into disciplinary cases. Working with the multi-agency Fusion Centre, the unit will help identify employees in priority cases investigated by law enforcement authorities,” says Ramaphosa in the letter.
VIDEO: President Ramaphosa says the R350 social relief grant may be extended beyond March 2022
President Ramaphosa says his focus now is to bring back an ethical capable state that will be free from corruption.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will continue to investigate cases of corruption, working with the newly established unit in government and bring perpetrators into book.
From The Desk of The President – Monday, 27 September 2021 – https://t.co/gY7JyJAWCh The revelation in Parliament that thousands of public servants have been illegally receiving social grants every month shows we still have a long way to go towards instilling a culture of ethics pic.twitter.com/lasALooSHU
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) September 27, 2021
