14 Mar 2018

Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) has received 442 complaints from government departments from 2014 to 2017, which translate to 8.7 per cent of the total number of complaints received during that period.

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Thato Kwerepe said in relation to official complaints from statutory bodies, the DCEC received only one while those received from parastatals were 32.

He said accurate statistics relating to whistle blowers could not be readily available because most of the time they chose to remain anonymous, adding that even in instances where they disclose identity, they do not disclose their place of employment.

He said the number of complaints received from private individuals and companies for the years 2014 to 2017 was 4 589, adding the reports from individuals and private companies had not been separated because individuals commonly make reports on behalf of their business entities without necessarily disclosing their identity.

The assistant minister told Parliament that the ‘DCEC does not request complainants to state their place of employment when reporting alleged corruption.

He said reports might be made in person, by postal mail or electronic communication, adding that individuals could also make reports in their personal capacity or in their representative capacity.

Selebi Phikwe West legislator, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister to state what proportion of complaints or reports alleging corruption to the DCEC are official complaints made by government departments, statutory bodies, local government institutions and parastatals.

He also wanted to know the proportion of those from whistle blowing by employees of the institutions and by private individuals and companies which are not part of government. Ends