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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."
