Baloyi challenges business on graft

Johannesburg - Public Service Minister Richard Baloyi sought to open a debate on Friday on whether the fight against corruption should be left to the government alone.

"Do you think fighting corruption is the business of government - or should everyone get their hands dirty?" Baloyi asked.

This was one of a series of questions the minister posed to a Business Unity SA (Busa) discussion on anti-corruption measures in Johannesburg entitled Assessing the role of business in the call for collective action.

He did not give any answers, but also asked the meeting to consider whether the country was adequately protecting whistleblowers, and whether public servants should be allowed to participate in business or receive gifts.

He asked whether business thought there was political will to deal with corruption and how it viewed government and business leadership.

"Are they just enriching themselves or providing leadership?"

Baloyi said the government was "on board to get our hands dirty and fight corruption".

Business should also consider whether it was competing or collaborating with the government in the fight against corruption.

Government and business needed to create an environment to fight corruption, not like a bee that only stung once, but like a wasp that repeatedly returned to attack, Baloyi said.