Prepared text of speech by Anchen Dreyer, MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Administration, in the debate on the President's State of the Nation Address, Parliament, February 16 2011:

Last year, at this podium, President Zuma said:  "We have repeatedly stated our commitment to fight corruption in the public service; we will intensify the fight against crime and corruption."  Last week, he repeated his promise and said:  "The fight against corruption continues."

But the question is: do voters still believe these promises?

Let's look at how many have been fulfilled.

The first promise: Declaring financial interests

A key element of clean government is that ministers and senior officials must disclose what they own in business and properties. But, do they comply with this requirement?

No, President Zuma.  At provincial level, a staggering 58% of senior officials did not comply; at national level, a shameful 63% of Directors-General did not comply.

However, in the DA-run government of the Western Cape, the compliance is 100%.

But, if the President himself does not submit his financial interests by due date, how can he expect senior managers to submit theirs?

The second promise: Accountability

Signed performance agreements by Heads of Departments and Directors-General are crucial to holding senior officials accountable; this is also required by the Senior Management Service Handbook.

But, in the four years up to 2009, 20% of Heads of Departments did not comply with this requirement, while in 2010, 35% did not comply.
Unsurprisingly, the actual evaluation of performance is even worse.  By March 2010, only half of all Heads of Departments had been evaluated.  As Dr. Ralph Mgijima pointed out:  "... this means that roughly half of the national budget was controlled by accounting officers who were not subjected to a proper evaluation".
And President Zuma admitted: "The simple truth is that we face a crisis of accountability".  But Mister President, when will you start enforcing compliance with the rules?

It can be done; the Western Cape provides an excellent example.

Derdens: Die belofte oor oop en eerlike tenders

In Junie 2010 belowe president Zuma: "... we continue our efforts to eradicate corruption in procurement and tender processes."

Maar, as departementshoofde nie prestasie-ooreenkomste teken nie, as hulle uitsette nie geëvalueer word nie en as hulle nie hulle sakebelange verklaar nie, wat verwag mens anders as dat bedrog sal voorkom?

Was die President regtig verbaas toe die Ouditeur-Generaal bevind het dat meer as 2 000 staatsamptenare kontrakte ter waarde van meer as R610 miljoen toegeken het aan besighede waarby hulle direkte belange het?

Weer eens stel die DA-regering in die Wes-Kaap die voorbeeld met die Business Interests of Employees' Act, wat dit verbied om sake te doen met maatskappye waarin werknemers meer as 5% belang het.

Wanneer wys die ANC-regering dat skoon regering ook hulle erns is?

[Translation: The third promise: open and honest tenders

In June 2010, President Zuma promised to "continue our efforts to eradicate corruption in procurement and tender processes".

But, if departmental heads do not sign performance agreements, if their outputs are not evaluated and if they do not declare their business interests, what else can one expect but that fraud will take place?

Was the President really surprised when the Auditor-General found that over 2 000 government officials had awarded contracts of more than R610 million to companies in which they had a direct interest?

Once again, the DA-led government of the Western Cape sets an example with the Business Interests of Employees' Act, which prohibits government from doing business with companies in which its employees have a stake of more than 5%.

When will the ANC government show that they, too, are serious about clean governance?]

Die vierde belofte: Optrede teen korruptes

President Zuma kondig trots aan dat hy die Spesiale Ondersoekeenheid gevra het om korrupsie in staatsdepartemente te ondersoek.  Wat beteken ondersoek sonder straf?

Staatsamptenare geïmpliseer in finansiële wangedrag, bedank eenvoudig voordat die dissiplinêre ondersoek afgehandel is, sodat die ANC-ministers hulle kort voor lank weer kan aanstel, in ander departemente!

President Zuma, wanneer begin die ANC-regering amptenare verantwoordelik hou vir diefstal?  Wanneer word korruptes krimineel aangekla en afgedank?  Eers as die staatskas reeds rot en kaal geplunder is?

[Translation: The fourth promise: taking action against corruption

President Zuma proudly announced that he has tasked the Special Investigations Unit to investigate corruption in government departments. But what is the use of investigating if no penalties are imposed?

Government officials implicated in financial misconduct simply resign before their disciplinary investigations are completed, only to be reappointed shortly afterwards in another department.

President Zuma, when will the ANC government start holding its officials accountable for theft? When will criminal charges be laid against corrupt officials, and when will they be relinquished of their posts? Only once the state coffers have been completely plundered?]

The fifth promise: Anti-corruption units

Mister Speaker, last week President Zuma again announced a new Special Anti-Corruption Unit.  What happened to all the other similar units? 

Since 2001 we have had the following:

* A National Anti-Corruption Forum
* Various national anti-corruption summits
* A National Anti-Corruption Programme
* An Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee
* The National Integrity System
* The National Anti-Corruption Hotline
* The Anti-Corruption Inter-Ministerial Committee

But what are the results? Calls to the Anti-Corruption Hotline are referred to the respective departments for action. And every year the report-back rate on action taken, gets worse. Last year it reached an all-time low of 10 percent! This means for 9 out of 10 complaints of corruption, no action is taken! 

In sharp contrast to this, the feedback figure in the Western Cape is 72%! 

Mister Speaker, I conclude:

While the President's speech makers write books full of promises, on the list of actions, there is nothing!  It is empty!

So, Mr President, do you think the voters still believe you?

Issued by the Democratic Alliance, February 16 2011

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter