Cosatu: Corruption robs the poor

Johannesburg - Corruption is tantamount to stealing from the poor, Cosatu said in its secretariat report on Tuesday.

The report was under discussion during the trade union federation's fifth central committee meeting in Midrand, near Johannesburg.

It said corruption had to be fought wherever it occurred in both the public and private sectors.

"It is not just a moral crusade but also an important political struggle to defend and deepen our democracy in the interests of the workers and the poor."

Cosatu's report said the large majority of public representatives and senior officials were honest and dedicated servants of the public, and were not involved in any form of corrupt activity.

"But for as long as a minority can get away with corrupt and fraudulent activities, it will undermine public confidence in all officials and the whole democratic system.

The report identified Cosatu's biggest concern.

"Some government leaders are also business leaders. Further, family links to business also create a conflict of interest. Even if they are not benefiting directly from government tenders, the danger always exists that in taking decisions and in formulating policy they will be guided by the impact this will have on their businesses rather than the broader public interest."

This was seen as the biggest threat to Cosatu's efforts to establish a transparent and corruption-free government.

The report added that it was not good enough for ministers and public officials to hide behind the argument that they had declared an interest in the companies that either they or their families owned.

"The fact that they are in business to make money creates an inevitable conflict of interest when they are legislating in parliament, a provincial legislature or a municipal council."