28 June 2005
South Africa is to host the fifth Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in 2007.
The fourth meeting of the Global Forum was held in Brasil last month, and was attended by members of South Africa's National Anti-Corruption Forum.
The National Anti-Corruption Forum, which consists of representatives of government, business and civil society, will be involved in the planning for the 2007 Global Forum.
The local forum met last week and adopted a programme of action that would focus on collaborative efforts to fight corruption within government departments.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting Public Services Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said the government would make the 2007 meeting an African event through the inclusion of African partners.
Corruption, the minister said, endangers confidence in the rule of law and the institutions that uphold it, as well as equal and easy access to quality services.
Fighting corruption "is not a task that government can undertake on its own; it requires the participation and active collaboration of all sectors of our society."
Fraser-Moleketi said the Department of Home Affairs had completed a corruption and fraud prevention plan to encourage "ethical behaviour" by employees, the public and other stakeholders.
The plan also aims to improve accountability, efficiency and effective administration within the department.
Source: BuaNews
