17 Mar 2024

Government has been urged to review the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act and make public procurement officers declare assets to the Ethics and Integrity Directorate.

The request was made by Member of Parliament for Mmadinare Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi, and other MPs, when debating the 2024/25 financial year budget estimates for the Ethics and Integrity Directorate in Parliament on March 13.

The budget estimates amounting to P22.3m consisting of P22m as recurrent estimates and P309 993 as development estimates, were presented by assistant Minister for State President Ms Boitumelo Gofhamodimo.

Mr Molebatsi said making political officers and senior public officers only to declare assets was not enough to fight corruption. 

He said audit reports had indicated that many junior public officers, especially those in the procurement space, were also involved in corruption.

“Corruption has destroyed economies of many countries, especially in Africa. Where there is corruption a country cannot progress. Some audit reports have indicated instances of corruption in this country. We should take action about this. Some people are living beyond their means,” he said.

The MP added that the budget proposed was not enough to fight corruption, asking that the directorate be allocated more funds to fight corruption by people in charge of public assets.

He also asked the directorate to address the issue of shortage of staff so that it could be effective in executing its mandate.

Mahalapye West MP Mr David Tshere expressed concern about what he termed as lack of transparency by the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act.

Mr Tshere said declarations made by politicians and senior public officers were a secret under the Act. 

He said secrecy was not helpful to the public to know what leaders had amassed during their time in public office. 

“The Act does not help much,” he said.

Therefore, Mr Tshere pleaded with the minister to review the Act to ensure more transparency.

Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas was also concerned about the ‘lack of transparency’ in the declaration of assets. 

Mr Lucas said information about what politicians had declared and what politicians had accumulated while holding public office should be accessible to the public and media. 

He said there was a dramatic transformation in the fortunes of some politicians since they assumed public office.

“This is something that the directorate should pay close attention to,” he said.

Mochudi West MP, Mr Mmusi Kgafela asked the minister to review the Act and compel  companies declare their assets. Mr Kgafela said some individuals registered their assets under their companies to hide corruption.

In response to MPs comments, Ms Gofhamodimo said the directorate was empowered to audit and analyse assets of politicians and public officers mentioned under the Act. 

She said the directorate was empowered to take officers to relevant authorities where there were suspicions of corruption.

However, she disagreed with suggestions that the information on declarations should be made public, pointing out that making that information public could put the lives of politicians and public officers at risk from criminals.

Regarding calls to review the Act, Ms Gofhamodimo said the directorate was still new and should be allowed to fully function before reviewing the Act. Parliament passed the budget proposal on Thursday. ENDS