Another anti- corruption hotline launched

By Ofentse Mokae
02 December 2009

As part of government’s efforts to reduce fraud and corruption in its operations a new anti corruption hotline has been launched.

The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) has joined other organs of state in declaring a war on corruption by launching its own anti-corruption hotline.

The hotline number 0800 43 43 73, is to be operated by an external private agency, KMPG in order to uphold confidentiality.

The pension fund announced that they had established the hotline to provide employees and the public with a mechanism to bring any unethical business practices or unethical conduct to book.

In September President Jacob Zuma launched his presidential anti corruption hotline costing the tax payer R4m and with have about 21 full-time employees working at the Union Buildings.

During its launch on September 14 Zuma himself took some of the first calls and promised callers that their complaints would be dealt with speedily.

On its first day of operation, the free hotline took 27,000 calls and had in its first three hours received some 7,300 complaints from frustrated citizens.

But the Democratic Alliance said that three weeks on, getting through to the line is all but an impossible mission.

"The DA has phoned the hotline a total of 42 times, over the course of 13 days, without once being able to get through," the DA said in a statement.

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners ‘Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse 2008’ highlighted the global trend towards corruption being rated the number one modus operandi experienced by organisations, including the GEPF.

“We at GEPF are aligning ourselves with the recent call of a war on fraud and corruption by government. I appeal to all GEPF staff members, including members of the public to make use of the hotline and report any form of corruption,” said GEPF.

The state organ said members of the public who report incidents of fraud and corruption will be guaranteed anonymity.

The hotline will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is a toll free if called from a Telkom phone, including public phones within South Africa.