Over 150 Gauteng govt officials doing business with State despite it being criminal offence - report

JOHANNESBURG - More than 150 officials in the Gauteng government are doing business with the state despite that being a criminal offence.

Section eight of the Public Administration Act prohibits all government employees from scoring tenders or any form of contract with the state.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is on Thursday morning receiving an independent report highlighting the state of ethics and corruption in his government.

The Gauteng State of Ethics Report has revealed the provincial education department is the leading offender in awarding contracts or entering into unethical agreements with government employees.

Out of 152 employees identified as conducting business with the state, 124 are linked to dealings with the Gauteng Department of Education.

Other departments implicated in similar practices include the sport, health, and infrastructure development.

Chairperson of the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council Solomuzi Mabuza said the ongoing unethical behaviour by government employees is a cause for concern.

“We are going to need to work harder to track those who are sophisticated in hiding their operations in doing business with the state. Departments need to finalise these investigations so that appropriate action can be taken as public servants are prohibited from doing business with the state.”

He urges the provincial government to eliminate these unethical practices.