The North West provincial government said on Thursday that an anti-corruption hotline phone number it had released was incorrect. The correct number for the toll-free service is 0800 202 591.
Premier Popo Molefe said members of the public should use the ”transparency hotline” number to report acts of corruption ”or any deviations from clean and accountable governance”.
His government said on Tuesday that at least 18 cases of corruption in government were reported.
Molefe established the hotline at the beginning of 2003, and urged people to continue to use it.
He said the public have a role to play in reporting corruption and warned people against being ”passive”.
”We must ensure that the culture of corruption, secrecy and lack of accountability we inherited from our apartheid past is not entrenched in our new democracy. Our people must play a central role as we confront this scourge. We must build a culture of integrity and clean governance,” said the premier.
Provincial spokesperson Tanana Monama said eight of the cases reported last year are still being investigated and the others were either finalised or referred back to appropriate government bodies for further action.
In 2002, the provincial government had reported 52 criminal cases involving R35,1-million.
Nineteen dockets had been referred to the provincial directorate for public prosecutions for decision on prosecution and combined sentences of 78 years had been passed relating to several cases involving R4,6-million.
”I call upon all patriots and citizens of goodwill to join the provincial government in its ongoing effort to ensure clean, accountable and transparent administration,” Molefe said. — Sapa