50% of S Africans have paid bribe - Sacci

Johannesburg - The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) on Wednesday called for a crackdown on corruption.

CEO Naren Rau said: "Sacci wants all stakeholders to crack down on corruption on every level for the sake of social cohesion and economic growth."

According to Transparency International's latest Global Corruption Barometer between 40 - 50% of South Africans had paid a bribe over the past year.

"This puts South Africa at roughly twice the global average of around 25%.

"Bribery and corruption erodes the very foundation of society and dampens economic growth and job creation."

Rau said bribery was not only an additional cost to the economy, but also an additional tax on the private sector and the most vulnerable members of society were often the most exposed.