By Staff Reporter
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has applauded the Home Affairs Department for conducting lifestyle audits to combat fraud and corruption.
“We welcome the 476 lifestyle audits concluded for DHA officials. This project must be extended to a wider employee population within the department to root out any corrupt and rogue elements within the department,” said committee chairperson Mosa Chabane.
He also urged the department to ensure adequate capacitation of its Counter-Corruption Unit to enhance efficiency.
As part of its attempt to clamp down on malfeasance, the committee called for interventions aimed at safeguarding junior officials from being tempted by syndicates to sell the departmental documents.
The audits found that lower-level employees were more likely to be highly indebted, which opened them up to temptation. However, these workers had since been vetted.
The committee has also welcomed a “noticeable increase” in dismissals of departmental officials who were found to have corruptly and fraudulently approved documents for undeserving individuals.
However, law enforcement agencies needed to expedite criminal investigations to ensure that people were not only dismissed, but face the full might of the law.
“The committee is steadfast that the DHA plays a critical homeland security role, and the selling of the departmental documents is unacceptable. These selfish officials have shown their lack of patriotism, which is treasonous. Action should be taken against any acts of criminality,” Chabane said.
The committee expressed its unhappiness with the Counter Corruption and Security Services only operating at 28% of its approved post quotient.
It said this was unacceptable and undermined the unit’s good work and potential to combat corruption and secure South Africa’s documents.
It urged the department to engage with National Treasury to find ways to further capacitate the service in line with the National Development Plan, which called for the development of a capable state that offered quality services to the people.
INSIDE POLITICS