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ETHICS

This feedback is captured on the Whistle-blowers are protected and can During the 2017-18 financial year, the
hotline’s Case Management System report anonymously,” says Nkosi. In PSC received 882 cases through the
(CMS) to enable complainants or addition to fear, Nkosi says another anti-corruption hotline. In this period,
whistle-blowers to track the progress on setback for the hotline was the reduction complaints about social grants fraud
the cases they reported. of the centre’s operating hours, from 24 led the pack with 594 cases reported
hours to only eight hours, five days a through the hotline.
But with matters like corruption, fear week.
often stops potential complainants from Cases of unethical behaviour (69),
blowing the whistle. We used to operate 24 hours, seven fraud and bribery (34), appointment
days a week and we would notice then irregularities (26), procurement
Some of the challenges we experience that most of the calls would come in after irregularities (24), abuse of government
are drop calls. People are worried and business hours, because people have resources (18), maladministration (15),
afraid to report corruption. Even when knocked off and are not at their places criminal conduct other than fraud and
they report, when you ask probing of work and can freely engage us. But bribery (17), abuse of power (14) and
questions, they drop the calls because due to financial constraints, we had to identity fraud (13) made up the other top
they are afraid that you might recognise cut down to reduce costs. 10 complaints lodged.
who they are and because they are
afraid of victimisation, especially public “While we want to operate up until 7pm With these notable achievements, Nkosi
service officials. or 8pm in the evening, that has financial encouraged all citizens to make use of
implications because our staff has to the hotline and play their part in ending
“They are afraid of victimisation and work shifts,” says Nkosi. corruption.
also occupational detriment that once it
is known that they have reported these The Commission plans to approach We want to fight corruption because as
allegations, they will suffer at work,” ICASA for the possibility of making the we know, our government is not rich.
says the Commissioner. hotline a toll-free number because a The GDP is not growing and we are no
person may want to report corruption longer collecting tax that will be able
To combat the element of fear and and will be asked a list of questions, all to service everything that has to be
ensure the protection of whistle-blowers, this while using their own airtime. serviced and so the little resources we
the Protected Disclosures Act lists the have must be taken care of and used
PSC as one of the institutions protected Although many hurdles exist at the efficiently.
under the Act. hotline, the PSC remains steadfast that
every call that results in successful “We therefore encourage both public
The Act, dubbed the Whistle-blowers’ investigation chips away at the scourge servants and the public at large to
Act, makes provision for employees of corruption. report any corrupt act because an
to report unlawful or irregular conduct allegation remains an allegation until it is
by employers and employees, while “Corruption is rife, but we will never investigated,” says Nkosi. 
protecting the person who blows the give up and say we are not winning the
whistle. battle. If one person is arrested then it is
fine. At least something is being done,
“I am happy that in the Protected unlike when nothing is happening to
Disclosures Act, the PSC has been people who are corrupt,” says Nkosi.
included as one of the bodies that you
can report to because in the past, people Despite the challenges, the hotline
would be afraid to report because they continues to grow from strength to
would think that they are not protected. strength.

Volume 12 No. 1 of 2018 | SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW 7